A GOLDEN hello is set to be offered to all new social workers in Blaenau Gwent in a bid to recruit and retain staff.

The one-off payments of up to £2,000 would be made on condition that recruits - including newly-qualified workers and returners to the profession - stay with Blaenau Gwent council for a minimum two years.

The proposal comes just three months after a damning report on the department's children's services, by the Audit Commission and Social Services inspectorate of Wales which said it was failing youngsters.

Interim social services director Dr Sue Ross - who was brought in to oversee changes in the department - said yesterday the mew measures are designed both to boost recruitment of staff and provide opportunities for those already employed.

There is a national shortage of social workers and Blaenau Gwent has in the past recruited staff from Canada to fill vacancies. But in the last financial year, there was a 43.9 per cent turnover in children's social workers at the council, with nine leaving. Four adults' social workers also left - a turnover of 7.8 per cent. There are four vacancies for social services overall.

Social workers earn between £21,282 and £29,067. Now the new measures, which could also be offered to occupational therapists, are to be discussed by the council's executive tonight. A report says that without these measures, it is "unlikely the council will be able to recruit and retain sufficient staff to ensure the delivery of statutory services".

Other measures to be discussed at tonight's meeting include: * a carefully managed workload for newly qualified workers for the first year of their career

* an extension of the salary range for social workers and occupational therapists

* rewards to be given to staff who achieve a social services Post Qualifying awards.

* a returner's scheme to encourage people who have left the profession to come back.

Dr Ross said: "We hope these steps will form attractive employment packages and will lead to successful recruitment and retention of staff. I think everyone recognises there is no quick fix and that it will be some time before we can measure the success of these initiatives. The cost of all the measures combined has been estimated at £74,270 for the first year.