Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

You are here:

Personal Social Services staff of social services departments at 30 September 2004, England

  • Document type:
    Statistical Bulletin
  • Author:
    Department of Health
  • Published date:
    31 March 2005
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Product number:
    ISBN1 84182 952 8
  • Gateway reference:
    2005
  • Series number:
    Statistical Bulletin 2005/09
  • Pages:
    19
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown copyright

The data in this Bulletin is derived from a return (SSDS001) completed each September by Councils with Social Services Responsibilities. The return covers all staff, whether full or part time, directly employed by social services departments. Whole time equivalents (wte) are calculated on the basis of staff contractual hours. The return does not cover agency staff or staff in the independent or voluntary sector.

Main findings:

  • In September 2004, Councils with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSRs) in England employed  213,300 whole time equivalent (wte) staff
  • This is 1% more than in September 2003 but 4% fewer than in September 1999. The reduction over five years mainly reflects the greater use of the private sector for residential care and home care and councils transferring some children's posts to their education directorates
  • The number of social work staff (37,900) was 12% higher than in 1999 and 2% higher than in 2003
  • Women account for 81% of wte staff and 51% of all staff work on a part-time basis
  • Over half of all wte staff work in an area office or field work setting; just under a quarter work in residential care
  • 82% of all staff are known to be white, around 10% are known to be from black and minority ethnic groups and around 8% are of unknown ethnic origin.

Additional links

Related Links

Ordering publications

Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.

Help viewing PDFs

Help viewing PDFs

Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.

Additional Links

Access keys