More jobs to go at Wiltshire Council (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

More jobs to go at Wiltshire Council

2:47pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Wiltshire By Mike Wilkinson, Senior Reporter

Children's service cabinet member Lionel Grundy is 'pleased' with the changes

More job losses at Wiltshire Council are to come after the council made changes to its support for families with young children.

A shake-up of the team that provide support for children centre’s and other providers working with children with difficulties and disabilities will mean 9.98 full time posts will be axed from a team equivalent to 71.5 full time jobs. Of these, 4.5 posts will come from current vacancies.

Cllr Lionel Grundy, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We have to find innovative ways to protect and improve the service we give the providers which support families with young children while making efficiencies.

“I am pleased that these changes, which have reshaped the service and will invest in key areas, will ensure this is this the case.”

The early years team has been told it must encourage nurseries, childminders, schools and the children’s centres to work more closely together to support families in the area.

The council wants to remove duplication from the service as well as further savings.

All 30 children’s centres will remain open.

Support for providers working with children with difficulties and disabilities is currently only available in term time but under the new plans the service would be available all year round.