The General Purposes Committee of Brent Council met on Monday 27 July 2026 to discuss and approve the continuation of recruitment and retention payments for social care staff, the extension of fixed-term contracts for senior roles, and appointments to sub-committees. The committee unanimously approved the continuation of these payments, which aim to improve staff recruitment and retention in critical social care roles. They also approved extensions for the Director of Resident Services and the Interim Director of Public Health and Leisure, and confirmed changes to sub-committee memberships.

Recruitment and Retention Payments for Adult Social Care Staff

The committee unanimously approved the continuation of recruitment and retention payments for social workers, occupational therapists, and visual impairment rehabilitation officers in Adult Social Care (ASC). These payments, which include a £5,000 golden hello for new recruits and annual retention payments of £3,000, have been in place since November 2023 and have been credited with reducing reliance on agency staff and increasing the number of permanent employees. Councillor Gwen Grahl, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, expressed strong support, stating, Social care is one of the most challenging professions, and having talented and compassionate staff really does make all the difference. The report highlighted that Brent's salaries are below those of neighbouring boroughs, making these additional payments essential for remaining competitive in a challenging recruitment market. The continuation of these payments is expected to cost approximately £500,000 per annum and is funded from ASC budgets.

Recruitment and Retention Payments for Early Help and Social Care Staff

The committee also unanimously approved the continuation of recruitment and retention payments for social workers in Children's Early Help and Social Care roles, and extended these payments to include occupational therapists. Similar to the ASC payments, these aim to improve the recruitment and retention of permanent staff. The report indicated that these payments have contributed to greater workforce stability, with the permanent children's social workforce now at nearly 90%, the highest it has been in a decade. Agency costs have also significantly reduced, more than halving over the last three years. The golden hello for new recruits in these roles is £5,000, with annual retention payments varying between £2,500 and £4,500 depending on the specific role and grade. The estimated annual cost for these payments is £456,000, funded from existing budgets.

Extension of Fixed-Term Director Appointments

The committee approved the extension of fixed-term contracts for two senior roles. The appointment of the Director of Resident Services was extended until 31 March 2027 to allow for permanent recruitment. Additionally, the interim appointment for the Director of Public Health and Leisure was extended until 31 January 2027, or until a permanent postholder takes up their role, whichever is sooner. This extension is necessary to ensure continuity of statutory public health leadership while a permanent recruitment process is completed. Councillor Charlie Clinton raised a question about the timeline for recruiting to the Director of Resident Services role, seeking assurance that the process would be completed before the proposed extension ended. The committee was informed that recruitment was intended to begin in September, with the aim of completion by March 2027, acknowledging potential delays due to the volume of senior recruitment currently underway.

Appointments to Sub-Committees

The committee confirmed changes to the membership of sub-committees. This included adjustments to the Conservative Group's nominations for the Brent Pension Fund Sub-Committee, with Councillors A. Patel and Mishra replacing Councillors Kansagra and H.B. Patel as full members, and Councillors Kansagra and H.B. Patel becoming substitute members. Councillor Mishra was also nominated to become Vice Chair of the Pension Fund Sub-Committee. These changes were made to reflect the political balance of the council following recent elections.