Wednesday 25th at 8.00am and Thursday - 26th* – Friday 27th June 2025 at 9.00am
- At the front of the main entrance to Daisy Hill hospital, 5 Hospital Road, Newry, BT35 8DR to commence at 8.00am to 12 noon and
- At bottom of the road (entrance) leading up to Craigavon Area hospital, 68 Lurgan Road, Portadown, BT63 5QQ to commence at 8.00am to 12 noon
- On *Thursday 26th June pickets will revert to a single protest outside the Trust Board meeting, in Newry at Daisy Hill Hospital. Meeting at 9.30 – 12 noon
NIPSA, representing social workers in Gateway, Looked After Children, and Family Support and Intervention Teams, has spent months in negotiations with the Department of Health and the five Health and Social Care Trusts. These discussions have aimed to address the escalating crisis within children’s social work and the urgent need to stabilise an overstretched and under-supported workforce.
Despite our repeated efforts, these talks have failed to deliver meaningful change. The workload pressures and staff shortages across the Children’s Directorate of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust continue to place our members—and the children and families they serve—at serious risk.
In light of this inaction, NIPSA Branch 733 is now directing members in Gateway and FSIT teams, Children in Care, Concurrent Care teams and Court Social Workers within the Southern Trust to take three days of strike action on 25th, 26th and 27th June.
While the Department continues to talk about long-term reform, the reality on the ground is that social workers feel ignored and left to shoulder an impossible burden with shrinking resources. Enough is enough.
NIPSA Branch 733 maintains that the Southern Trust has a clear duty of care to its employees, and must act without delay to address the immediate risks facing its social work staff. More broadly, there is an urgent need for a coordinated and credible workforce strategy across all Trusts to protect staff welfare and service quality.
As your union, we are committed to defending your rights and wellbeing. This strike action is a necessary and justified response to an unsustainable situation. We are also making clear to management and the public that if the crisis is not resolved, further action may follow.
Please also note that during the strike period:
Members will not attend court
There will be no review meetings or family contacts
Work will not be rushed through beforehand or made up afterwards
Any outstanding work will either be done when feasible or compensated accordingly
Thank you for your continued strength, unity and determination.
In solidarity, NIPSA Branch 733