So today I was reading that in at least 10 councils in England, Agency Social Workers make up 30 to 45% of the Social Work work force. When you consider how bad we are are getting people into the Nursing profession currently can we ask when and why did these gaps get so big and begin to cost so much. Agency staff mean increased costs but also Agency fees meaning money not going on care but on Agency fees ?!?

Apparently £350 million was spent on Agency Social Workers in 17-18.

The Guardian carries comment from Social Workers that locum jobs just help them pay the bills better where as salaries in Council posts are just not competitive.

Now an an interesting thing I never realised about Agencies from a tax point of view, some of the biggest recruitment agencies have head companies that are registered in the Cayman Islands so I’m guessing some creative accounting is going on as well here.