Social work load could be spread

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 5

Social work load could be spread

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

Temporary social workers might soon be sought by the Christchurch Social Welfare Department to cope with the extra work load that overburdened full-time social workers are refusing tohandle.

A meeting between the department, social workers and the Public Service Association had not resolved social workers’ claims that they were overworked, said the D.S.W. director, Mr Maurice Doocey. However, as an interim measure, the department would consider taking on temporary social workers if necessary, he said. Since January 11 social workers have refused to handle any work they could not deal with and have handed this to the Social Welfare Department management. The workers say they were forced to impose

work limits after they came under increased pressure from up to 700 cases of child abuse last year. Mr Doocey said urgent requests for social work services would be met, particularly child abuse and the care of State wards. The department was also liaising closely with the Foster Care Association, and any calls to the department from foster parents would be directed to the appropriate staff if a social worker could not deal with the call. So far, four management staff had been able to respond.

The question of any form of disciplinary action had not been discussed, but, if the matter did arise, it would be dealt with “at a regional level and by head office,” said Mr Doocey. The P.S.A. organiser for Christchurch, Mr Phil Butler, said social workers now felt that the management had acknowledged their responsibility for the cases that came into the department, and would not be concerned at temporary workers being employed.

"For the first time, social workers have a manageable work load, and a work limit they

see, beyond which they will not go,” he said. In the past, the department had not got “simply the sweat, but the blood from its social work stone,” said Mr Butler. The social workers were willing to keep communicating but would continue to impose work limits until the department “came up with something else,” he said. How many temporary social workers were needed would probably be known next week, when a clearer picture of the work load emerged, said Mr Doocey.