Social workers worst for sickness

Social workers in the Black Country have among the highest sick rates in the country, new figures revealed today.

According to research by the Liberal Democrats social workers take more sick leave than any other public service professional, averaging nearly 12 days a year and in Wolverhampton they take an average of 18.9 days with 33 members of staff taking off more than 20 days each.

The figures are far higher than the national average of 7.4 days sick a year, and more than the absence rate for NHS workers which is 11 days and the police at 10.2.

In Walsall social workers take an average of 9.6 days sick leave with 37 taking more than 20 days each, in Staffordshire the figure is 13 with 69 social workers taking more than 20 days off and in Dudley it is 10.4 with just over 20 staff taking more than 20 days off each.

Figures for Sandwell were not provided.

The research also found there were more than 2,700 social worker vacancies in England.