Social work staff in the Belfast Health Trust will begin industrial action tomorrow, 25 April 2024. The action will extend into the Northern Trust on 2 May and will roll out to other Trusts over the next few weeks.
The dispute centres around a sustained staffing crisis in Family and Childcare services. In many areas, staffing has been 30+% below required levels for a considerable time. Long-term chronic understaffing has led to a position where the service is not being provided safely, staff are carrying excessive caseloads, and stress & illness are commonplace.
The crisis has led to vulnerable children being put in danger and people not being able to access essential services. The Health Trusts and the Department of Health have failed to meet their statutory obligations.
NIPSA has attempted to engage with the Department of Health and the Health Trusts on the staffing crisis, but no resolution has been found. To avert industrial action NIPSA sought a last-ditch meeting with the Health minister, Robin Swann, and that meeting took place on Wednesday 24 April. Unfortunately, the meeting did not reach a useful conclusion.
NIPSA Deputy General Secretary, Patrick Mulholland said,
“On Thursday 25 April, NIPSA members in Family and Childcare will begin industrial action to make the service safer for users and staff. These health service workers are determined to ensure our health service does not let down the most vulnerable people in society.
This action is only the start of our campaign to ensure children and families can rely on their health service to be there when they need it and to ensure it is fit for purpose.
NIPSA will engage with employers to ensure appropriate mitigations are in place to protect life and limb.”