Proposals made at Bromley Council could see thousands of pounds in bonuses paid to attract qualified social workers to the area.

Like many local authorities across the UK, Bromley is currently suffering from a critical shortage of children's social workers. The News Shopper, a website for South-East London and North Kent, reports that a raft of measures proposed by the council could cost more than £800,000 for the next four years. They have been made to attract more qualified people to the vacant social work jobs in the area and to tackle the high turnover rate seen in recent years.

The News Shopper reports that projected rates for the annual number of referrals to children's social care services have increased 117% from 2007, from 3,425 to 7,430. The council report warns that shortages of qualified individuals for these social care jobs, coupled with the surge in demand, "represent a serious risk to maintaining an effective social care service".

In response, the council has proposed a £1,000 'golden handshake' to all newly recruited qualified social workers in the area. To tackle turnover rates the council has also proposed a bonus of up to £2000 for anyone who stays working in Bromley for a full year. The council is also considering a scheme would could pay for council staff to study a £10,000 social work degree.