Meta Data Document Release of underlying data “CHILDREN'S SOCIAL WORK WORKFORCE, LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND, 30 SEPTEMBER 2013” SFR08/2014 BACKGROUND The figures are derived from the Children’s Social Work Workforce 2012-13 data collection. This is the first time the Department has collected this information on a statutory basis. A copy of the data collection form and guidance notes completed by each Local Authority (LA) in England can be found at: http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/social/a00222027/childrens-workforce-data-collection-2013-14 THE UNDERLYING DATA FILE Title: SFR08_2014_UD.csv Coverage: Total for England provided for each variable Total for each Region Total for each LA in England Variable names: LA_CODE_DFE; Local authority code (DfE) LA_CODE_ONS; Local authority code (ONS) LA_NAME; Local authtority name REGION_CODE_DFE; Region code (DfE) REGION_CODE_ONS; Region code (ONS) REGION_NAME; Region name A1_FTE_ChildrensSocialWorkers; Number of Children's Social Workers based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) A2_FTE_Vacancies; Number of Children's Social Worker vacancies based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) A3_FTE_VacancyRate; Children's Social Worker vacancy rate based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) % B1_FTE_Starters; Number of children's Social Worker Starters based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) B2_FTE_Leavers; Number of children's Social Worker Leavers based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) B3_FTE_TurnoverRate; Children's Social Worker turnover rate based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) % D1_FTE_AgencyWorkers; Number of Agency Workers employed by local authority's Children's Services based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) D2_FTE_AgencyWorkerRate; Children's Agency Worker rate based on full-time equivalents (FTEs) % A1_Headcount_ChildrensSocialWorkers; Number of Children's Social Workers based on headcount A2_Headcount_Vacancies; Number of Children's Social Worker vacancies based on headcount A3_Headcount_VacancyRate; Children's Social Worker vacancy rate based on headcount % B1_Headcount_Starters; Number of children's Social Worker Starters based on headcount B2_Headcount_Leavers; Number of children's Social Worker Leavers based on headcount B3_Headcount_TurnoverRate; Children's Social Worker turnover rate based on headcount % D1_Headcount_AgencyWorkers; Number of Agency Workers employed by local authority's Children's Services based on headcount D2_Headcount_AgencyWorkerRate; Children's Agency Worker rate based on headcount % CiNperCSW_FTE; Number of children in need per full-time equivalent (FTE) children's social worker CiNperCSW_Headcount; Number of children in need per children's social worker Methodology: 1. Data are returned form 152 LAs in England. 2. Social workers included in this data are those who have registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and either work in a local authority in a children’s services department or (if working in an authority where the services are joined up) work exclusively on children and families work. This includes social workers regardless of managerial responsibilities or number of caseloads. 3. Full time equivalents (FTEs) are calculated by aggregating the total number of hours that staff are contracted to work and dividing by the standard hours for their grade. In this way, part-time staff are converted into an equivalent number of ‘full-time’ staff. 4. The number of children in need per children's social worker has been calculated using data from the Children in Need Census 2012-13. The number of children in need is as at 31 March 2013 whilst the social worker numbers are as at 30 September 2013. Children in need data is published at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/characteristics-of-children-in-need-in-england-2012-to-2013 5. Vacancy rates have been calculated using: = Number of vacancies / (Number of social workers + Number of vacancies) And relate to a snapshot at 30 September 2013. 6. Starters and leavers are defined as those commencing and ending their employment at the particular local authority rather than whether they are joinging or leaving the social worker profession. 7. Turnover rates have been calculated using: = Number of leavers during the year / Number of social workers at 30 September 8. Agency worker rates have been calculated using: = Number of agency workers / (Number of social workers + Number of agency workers) And relate to a snapshot at 30 September 2013. 9. Absence rates have been calculated using: = Number of days missed due to sickness absence during year / (Number of FTE at 30 September x 253) Where 253 is the number of working days in a year taking account of bank holidays. 10. National totals are derived by summing data provided by each LA and then applying rounding and suppression. Region totals are derived by summing data for each LA within that region and then applying rounding and suppression. The sum of regional totals will not necessarily match the National total as a result. LA level data are data as returned by each LA rounded and suppressed. The sum of each LA will not necessarily match the regional totals or the National total as a result. Rounding and Suppression: The following rounding conventions have been used: National and regional relating to both headcounts and FTEs have been rounded to the nearest 10. Local authority figures relating to headcounts have been kept as unrounded integers whilst local authority figures relating to FTEs have been rounded to 1 decimal place. Rates and percentages have been rounded to the nearest per cent. The National Statistics Code of Practice requires we take reasonable steps to ensure that our published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality. The following conventions have been used: x All counts where the figures are 2 or fewer and replace by a cross (x). Percentages and rates where the numerator or denominator is based on a value of 2 or fewer have also been replaced by a cross. 0 Where any number is shown as zero (0), the original figure submitted was zero. . Not applicable .. Not available - Negligible – used to represent a percentage below 0.5% These conventions are consistent with the Department’s Statistical Policy Statement on Confidentiality found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-official-statistics-published-by-the-department-for-education