Ms Brenda Feeney:

The current pay rates for newly qualified entrants do not reflect the work done and need to be reviewed. General social work salaries need to be reviewed because the pay scale for a basic rate social worker stops after seven years' experience. If they are not interested in management, there is no incentive for social workers to continue in what is a highly challenging job. The senior practitioner role has been reintroduced, but the pay rates do not reflect what is required of somebody in that role.