Staff in social work teams employed by Lancashire County Council are to stage a four-day strike in a dispute over salary grades and working arrangements.

Around 200 social care support officers and hearing impairment officers employed by the council will walk out on Friday.

The staff, members of Unison, conduct social care assessments for adults, and arrange and review care packages for people with additional needs.

Unison said social worker shortages country-wide and increasing demand mean their role has expanded over the past decade.

Lancashire County Council has said contingency arrangements are in place to try and limit the impact of any strikes, and it is continuing to work with staff and the trade union to reach an agreement.

Unison’s North West regional organiser James Rupa said: “Over the years, Lancashire County Council has relied on dedicated and hardworking social care support officers to go above and beyond their pay grade to provide key services to people across the county.

“The council has exploited their skills, experience and goodwill, essentially getting them to provide care on the cheap.

“Exhausted staff are leaving their jobs in search of better-paid work elsewhere.

“Their colleagues that remain in post feel they’ve no option but to take action.”

A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: "We have been informed by the trade union that our Adult Social Care Support Officers (SCSOs) have balloted and agreed to take discontinuous strike action from Friday, July 26, until Monday 29. 

"This means that while the strike is unlikely to be all four days, strike action can be called on any of those four days.  

"Robust contingency arrangements are in place to ensure business continuity and that the people we serve are not adversely affected should strike action occur.  

"We had started an appeals process linked to the regrading applications from a group of our Social Care Support Officers in which SCSOs and the trade unions have been fully involved. At present the unions alongside the SCSOs organising committee have taken the decision to pause the appeal process.

"The county council is committed to continuing the appeals process and are continuing to work with our staff and the trade union to reach a positive resolution to the ongoing dispute."