Bexley's Adult Social Care services have seen a significant improvement in permanent staffing levels and a reduction in vacancies, according to a report presented to the Adult Social Care & Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Adult Social Care Workforce Development Plan revealed that the proportion of permanent posts has risen from 57% to 69% between December 2023 and December 2025. This increase is attributed to a comprehensive workforce strategy, which has also led to a 30% reduction in net vacancies.
As of December 2023, 57% of posts were filled with permanent staff, 21% were filled with agency staff, and 15.1% of posts were vacant. By December 2025, the figures show that 69.0% of posts are filled on a permanent basis, with agency staff filling 16% and only 5.9% of posts remaining vacant.
The Adult Social Care Workforce Development Plan outlines that the improvements stem from a strategy designed to address historical recruitment challenges. Key initiatives include creating supported career pathways for newly qualified occupational therapists and social workers, and developing apprenticeship schemes for both professions. Furthermore, the service has successfully converted agency staff to permanent roles.
While the overall trend shows improvement, the social work posts within the Integrated Mental Health team remain the most challenging area for recruitment and retention. Despite this, since April 2025, 14 permanent staff posts have been filled in this area, including Senior Social Workers, Social Workers, and Occupational Therapists, though staff departures in these roles have also been noted.
The report, which can be found in the Public reports pack, details the performance levels and user satisfaction within Adult Social Care. Further information on the workforce update is available in Item 08- Adult Social care Workforce update final.
