Retention Payment for Children's Social Workers

We offer a retention payment to eligible qualified social workers and managers working in specified Children’s Social Care roles and teams.

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If you join an eligible role, you could receive up to £4,000 a year, paid retrospectively in two instalments of up to £2,000. Payments are normally made in April and October and are subject to the eligibility criteria below.

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​How the payment works

• The payment is assessed over two qualifying periods: 1 April to 30 September and 1 October to 31 March.

• You must remain employed at the end of the relevant qualifying period.

• If you join during a qualifying period, your payment will be calculated using completed calendar months.

• Payments are adjusted for part-time working and for time spent moving into or out of an eligible role or team.

• The payment is taxable, subject to National Insurance contributions and pensionable.

• It is a non-contractual allowance and does not form part of basic salary.

• The payment is subject to satisfactory performance and the other eligibility conditions set out in the council’s retention payment protocol.

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Eligible roles​

• The payment applies to eligible colleagues employed as:

• Service Manager

• Team Manager

• Deputy Team Manager

• Senior Practitioner

• Lead Child Protection Practitioner

• Early Help Manager

• Social Worker

• Professional Lead Missing Exploitation

• Newly Qualified Social Worker

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Eligible teams​

• You may qualify if you work in one of the following areas:

• Family Help and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams

• Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, including the Emergency Social Work Team

• Corporate Parenting, including Children in Care and Care Leavers

• Children with Disabilities, children in need

• Contextual Safeguarding

 

Eligible roles Employees must also

• Meet the essential qualification and experience requirements for their role.

• Remain employed at the end of the qualifying period.

• Have satisfactory performance as assessed by management and in line with Social Work England professional standards.

• Not be subject to an upheld formal disciplinary sanction that is still in force.​​

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The scheme is reviewed periodically and may be changed or withdrawn.