‘GOLDEN hello’ payments are being offered by Barnsley Council to tempt new front-line staff to its children’s services.

A cash lump sum is being offered to entice social worker team managers to the service and stem the council’s reliance on agency staff. Two of the 15 team manager posts are currently filled using agency workers costing the authority £174,000.

Children’s services bosses have given the go ahead to offer £2,500 to new team manager staff, with £1,000 handed over after six months’ satisfactory service and the remaining £1,500 after two years’ satisfactory service. A one-off payment of £1,500 will also be given to existing team managers as an intiative to stay in post.

Read more in this weeks Barnsley Chronicle