Only 14 per cent of staff in one department of Bradford social services described themselves as "proud" to work for the authority, a survey shows.

Half of the 4,200 strong workforce were surveyed and the results showed high levels of dissatisfaction.

The survey was carried out as part of a management bid to secure the Investors in People award. Levels of job satisfaction amongst staff were mixed. Those working in elderly people's services seemed happier with 62 per cent of staff going home with positive feelings at the end of the day.

They stated that they were "proud to have done something useful" and "looked forward to tomorrow".

Staff working with disabled people were split with just under half indicating positive feelings.

Dissatisfaction was strongest in Resources and Quality Assurance and the children's services division, where 26 per cent and 30 per cent respectively either disagreed, or disagreed strongly, with the statement "I am generally satisfied with my job".

Asked how they felt about working for Bradford Social Services, those in the elderly division topped the league with 30 per cent saying they were positively 'proud'. Amongst workers in children's services, this fell to 19 per cent; while only 14 per cent of staff in the R&QA department were 'proud'.

Keith Williamson, of the public sector union Unison which represents social services staff, said: "The survey shows that staff working in the children's division have the second lowest level of satisfaction with their job, it isn't any surprise. Field social workers are at the sharp end. At the best of times it's a stressful job."

He said the union supported a stress survey conducted across the whole authority last year. "The bottom line is that management should not expect staff to do the impossible."

Liam Hughes, strategic director of social services, said: "The survey shows that morale is uneven across social services. We are working with staff to do what we can to improve the situation and we recognise how hard the job can be at the front line.

"The first thing to look at is good supervision and support for staff, and we need to try and arrange the service so that work is manageable, particularly in children's services."

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