Salary, Benefits and Support

We recognise that our greatest asset is our workforce. Our pay is competitive, and we enable salary progression through our Social Work Career Progression Framework.

• Competitive Pay

  The following salaries are per annum for 2022/23, based on working 37 hours per week (pro rata if part time): 

   

  • Social Worker: 

    £32,909 – £41,496

  • Practitioner Manager:

     £42,503 – £45,495

  • Team Manager: £46,549 – £49,590
  • To support recruitment and retention into our Intake and Family Support and Care Planning and Proceedings Teams we pay an annual enhancement of £5,000 to the Social Workers and Managers in those Teams.
• Manageable case loads and time for direct work 

  In partnership with our workforce, we have reviewed our structure to add capacity and resilience across our teams and enhance levels of support to practitioners and managers.

   

  We have added an additional care and support team, created and recruited to 14 new Social Care Officer posts, expanded our Operational Manager complement to three, further resourced our Business Support Team and have plans to add a number of Support Worker posts across our teams to enhance our ability to mobilise support quickly, in and out of hours.

   

  Workloads are carefully monitored to ensure capacity for direct work with children, young peopls and their families / carers, alongside the completion of core tasks.

• Flexible work / life balance 

  We recognise the importance of a work and home life balance and offer a range of family friendly policies.

   

  We provide IT equipment that supports agile working and enables working from home and have learnt a lot from the experience of the pandemic in informing our preferred operating model. We have voice to text technology that enables workers quickly and easily record on chidlren’s files and are actively streamlining our paperwork to free up workers to spend time directly with families.

• Free parking 

  Staff are currently working from home in the context of the pandemic. Our usual office location benefits from a large car park with free parking and direct access to the local train station.

• Help with the cost of relocating 

  We offer relocation assistance of up to £8,000, to help you move to the Vale of Glamorgan (subject to eligibility).This covers specific removal and relocation costs, which can include removals; lodging or travelling allowance; disconnecting and reconnecting utilities; and certain professional fees (e.g. estate agents and solicitors).

• Local Government Pension Scheme  

  We offer membership to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).  The scheme is very secure because its benefits are defined and guaranteed in law. The LGPS is contracted out of State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and must, in general, provide benefits at least as good as most members would have received had they been members of SERPS.

   

  www.lgpsmember.org 

• Inclusiveness, Equality and Diversity 

  So, we welcome you and your application whatever your background and regardless of: age; disability; gender identity; marriage or civil partnership; pregnancy or maternity; race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins; religion and belief, including no belief; sex; and sexual orientation.

  
  We have an LGBT+ and Allies Network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other groups of sexual and gender minorities (LGBT+) staff.  It meets monthly to provide support, an opportunity to discuss issues which affect LGBT+ people, and to identify ways to raise awareness of LGBT+ issues.

   

  We have signed the Time to Change Employer Pledge and are committed to change how we think and act about mental health in the workplace and make sure that employees who are facing these problems feel supported.   

  
  We will soon be developing another group to promote an inclusive and diverse working environment for a wider range of staff.

  
  We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident organisation.

  Stonewall Starting Out Guide

  Equalities - Vale of Glamorgan Council

  GLAM LGBT+ and Allies Network Meetings

   

• Staff Appraisal and Development  
  

  Informed by the employee engagement strategy, the Vale of Glamorgan’s annual appraisal scheme supports a meaningful dialogue between individuals and their line managers. All staff also receive regular formal supervision and access to experienced managers.

   

  We are committed to training and career development, offering a rewarding and progressive career pathway that is open and equitable for all. Newly qualified staff are supported to complete the Consolidation Programme as part of the Continuous Professional Education and Learning (CPEL) framework. The framework also provides a suite of programmes designed to support career pathways for Social Workers in Wales as they develop in practice. We encourage our staff to take opportunities to explore working in other teams as part of enhancing their learning and experience.

   

  Social Workers wishing to seek promotion are encouraged to do so and we have a positive track record for succession planning.

• Employee Assistance Programme 

  Staff wellbeing is of central importance to the Division and to the wider Council and wellbeing is promoted in all service areas through Wellbeing Champions.

   

  Our Employee Assistance Programme offers emotional and practical support for issues at work and at home. 

   

  The services are available both online and through a Freephone number at any time, day or night. 

   

  Support is available in a number of ways:

   

  • A telephone counselling service, providing advice, information and support 24/7, 365 days of the year.
  • Access to free and impartial information, advice and support, to help you find practical answers to real life questions. Common subjects include family and personal issues, finance/debt management, benefits, employment, childcare provision, health, writing wills and consumer matters.
  • An online health and wellbeing service with a vast resource of regularly updated articles and information designed to help you manage a healthy lifestyle.
  • A website and mobile app which provides free interactive health and personal fitness support.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme 

  

  As part of a continued commitment to help employees to balance their work commitments with their home life, the Vale of Glamorgan operates a scheme allowing employees to purchase additional annual leave. 

   

  Employees can choose to purchase either 5 or 10 days annual leave (pro rata for those who work part-time).

• Staff Charter and Survey 

  The Council’s Staff Charter has been designed to ensure we can continue to provide the best possible service to our customers through the best possible contribution from all our employees. As the external challenges grow it is important that everyone has the support and opportunity to make that contribution.

   

  The Charter sets out a framework of mutual expectations for both the Council and all employees to meet the demands of the next few years. It seeks to set out the support that our employees can reasonably expect and the responsibilities and qualities that are expected in return.The Council’s Annual Staff Survey has produced some really positive results for the Directorate.  We have seen an increase in the numbers of staff feeling they are treated with respect, listened to, appreciated and recognised for their work. 

   

  More staff feel they are managed in a fair and consistent way and are clear about what is expected of them. 

   

  Children and Young People Services has received a really positive increase in the number of staff feeling trusted to get on with their job, and the survey has highlighted Children and Young People Services as the best performing service area in the Directorate. 

• Learning Cafe  

  We are extremely proud of our award winning Learning Café which has introduced a new, informal way for current and aspiring leaders within the Vale of Glamorgan to network, share ideas and promote best practice. 

   

  The Learning Café welcomes current and future leaders from across the Council to attend monthly events in a friendly and relaxed setting. Every month there is an interesting presentation by a guest speaker or a current leader from within the Council.

   

  Staff are encouraged to take part in thought provoking discussions aimed at developing current managers and encouraging new ones.

   

  The Learning Café has adapted to the current ways of working and is operating virtually.

• Healthcare 

  We have a dedicated Occupational Health Service providing support and assistance in relation to your health, safety and welfare.

• Car Loan Scheme 
  If you need to purchase a car, a competitive car loan scheme is available to all staff.