Children’s Social Work teams across Gateway and Family Support & Intervention Teams (FSIT) in the Southern Health Trust will go on strike for three days this week.
NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance) has confirmed that its members will take the three days of strike action from Wednesday, June 25 to Friday, June 27.
The action, they say, comes in response to a “worsening crisis in children’s social services, driven by severe staff shortages and unsustainable caseloads”.
Over recent months, NIPSA has held repeated and urgent discussions with the Department of Health (DoH) and the five Health and Social Care Trusts to address the breakdown of safe working conditions across children’s services.
Despite these prolonged talks, no meaningful progress has been achieved, leaving social workers facing daily pressure in increasingly unsafe environments.
Faced with inaction from both the Department and the Trusts, NIPSA say they have been left with no choice but to escalate to industrial action.
The mounting pressures on staff have compromised the delivery of essential social work services, including safeguarding within Gateway and FSIT, as well as in Looked After Children teams.
Reports of stress, anxiety and burnout are widespread among frontline staff.
A spokesperson for NIPSA commented: “It is unacceptable that dedicated professionals must resort to strike action to be heard. The inaction from the Department of Health has left social workers feeling unsupported and stretched to breaking point. These workforce shortages are putting both staff and vulnerable children at risk every day.”
NIPSA is demanding urgent intervention from the Southern Trust to address the staffing crisis and ensure a safe, sustainable working environment for social workers.
Discussions will take place between NIPSA and management to agree on derogations—to ensure emergency cover remains available during the strike for children in immediate need.
Details regarding picket lines are as follows:-
– At the front of the main entrance to Daisy Hill hospital, 5 Hospital Road, Newry, BT35 8DR and
– At bottom of the road (entrance) leading up to Craigavon Area hospital, 68 Lurgan Road, Portadown, BT63 5QQ
