AQW 21754/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of unfilled posts within social work teams, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Asked by Nuala McAllister MLA on 31 January 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 31 January 2025
- Answer due by
- 17 February 2025
- Answered
- 17 February 202517 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Information on Health and Social Care (HSC) staff in post and vacancies actively being recruited by staff group and HSC Trust, is published by my Department on a quarterly basis at the link below. The latest information available refers to 30 September 2024.
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/dhssps-statistics-and-research/workforce-statistics
At 30 September 2024, there were 171 social worker vacancies actively being recruited by HSC organisations and 4,666.8 whole-time equivalent social workers in post. A breakdown of these vacancies and staff in post by HSC organisation is detailed in the table below.
HSC social worker vacancies actively being recruited and social workers in post (WTE), as at 30 September 2024
| HSC Trust | Vacancies actively being recruited | Staff in post (WTE) |
| Belfast | 37 | 1,081.1 |
| Northern | 13 | 998.5 |
| South Eastern | 17 | 816.5 |
| Southern | 62 | 784.5 |
| Western | 39 | 906.9 |
| Other HSC organisations | 3 | 79.4 |
| Total | 171 | 4,666.8 |
NOTE : Trusts recruit a large number of newly qualified social workers between June and September each year, therefore the number of vacancies rises post September. The data provided does not reflect staff absence from work due to illness/maternity leave etc.