Social services in bid for more cash (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Social services in bid for more cash

ALMOST a quarter of needy children known to social services have no allocated social worker because of a shortage.

And filling the gap will need eight new social workers at a total cost for the first year alone of £240,000, adding to the 38 currently in post.

The department is seeking an addition to its existing £50m budget for the next financial year.

This proposal will be discussed by the council's cabinet when it meets on Wednesday.

However council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) says the department will be expected to meet the £240,000 from extra grants totalling about £5m.

The department says that, as of December last year, there were 849 children who could benefit from having a social worker.

Of those, 187, or 22 per cent, did not.

Assistant social services director Jean Pollard said: "None of the 187 children without an allocated social worker are on the Child Protection Register.

"They are, in fact, children with a much lower level of need.

"Many already benefit from input from other agencies.

"For example, there might be children with disabilities who have nursing care or children with other problems who benefit from involvement with after-school clubs."

Ms Pollard added: "Being allocated a social worker is needed because it helps them reach their full potential and can also help their families.

"We appreciate that the council is keen to keep council tax as low as possible, and that resources are very, very stretched. But social services is a priority for the council and we are making it clear what we think it needs to provide the sort of services we should be providing."

However, Coun Bawden pointed out that the department had recently benefited from an addition of almost £5m to its budget £3.6m from the council's central budget and the remainder from the Government.

He said: "We expect the department to meet these costs within this additional money."

Barrie Hudson