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Resolved:-
 

1.1    That approval be given
to increase the contract sum to Sandwell Children’s Trust by
a maximum of £260,000 to continue the payment of a market
supplement of £2,500, plus on costs, for 2023/24 to all
permanent case holding social workers.
 

1.2    That approval be given
to Sandwell Children’s Trust adopting a retention payment
policy for all permanent case holding social workers and permanent
team managers, payable based on length of service at a maximum
additional cost to the Council of £310,000 in year 1,
£585,000 in year 2 and £1.136m in year 3.
 

1.3    That approval be given
to authorise Sandwell Children’s Trust to recruit up to 12
International Social Workers in 2023/24 at a maximum additional
cost of £556k.
 

1.4    That in connection with
1.1 - 1.3 above, approval be given for the total maximum cost of
£1.126m for 2023/24 to be funded from the Social Care
Earmarked Reserve.
 

1.5    That the Director of
Finance, in consultation with the Direct of Children’s
Services, review the Sandwell Deal Policy in December 2023 to
evaluate its effectiveness in recruiting and retaining social work
employees and consideration given to funding ongoing costs through
the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy.