Cardiff Council is recruiting eight new social workers in response to concerns about the growing number of referrals to its Children’s Services and the impact of this on staff working at its Intake and Assessment service.
In the last year Cardiff saw a 19% increase in referrals to Children’s Services which reflects a national trend across the rest of the UK where cases brought to the attention of local authorities has risen considerably. Cardiff Council has taken a number of actions to address the need for extra staff and to ensure resources are available to meet the demands on the service.
A detailed review of processes has been undertaken by senior management who have introduced some changes to ease pressures in some areas and are continuing to review the allocation of cases to ensure there are sufficient members of staff available to handle the cases.
£250,000 has also been allocated to appoint the extra Social Workers will help ensure that the Intake & Assessment service is resourced to deal with the increased case loads.
The changes already meet many of the recommendations identified in a report for the Council’s Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee which examined case management at Children’s Services Intake and Assessment last month. The Task and Finish Group reviewed evidence from social workers, team managers, associated referral agencies, Care Council for Wales and unions before reporting recommendations to the Council’s Executive.
The report recommendations include reviewing the allocation of cases within Children’s Services Intake and Assessment so that social workers have no more than 20 cases, provide full staffing of experienced social workers, reduce the backlog of cases, provide high quality support and supervision for staff and to investigate the development of stronger working partnerships with agencies such as the Police, Women’s Aid and schools.
The Council has begun work towards development of an interagency referral/contact point for Children’s Services as well as establishing a dedicated looked After Children and Leaving Care Service and a separate Child Protection and Children in Need service.
A review of all processes is taking place to support efficiency and effectiveness and reduce any unnecessary duplication that might have crept into administrative systems that support work with children and their families.
Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing, Cllr Kirsty Davies said, “The protection of vulnerable children remains an important priority for the Council, as well as for me personally, and we are absolutely committed to ensuring that the needs of the service are met. I am encouraged by the improvements and changes being made in the way work is being allocated and managed across the service. The appointment of additional social workers has strengthened the Intake and Assessment service and is already beginning to have positive effects.”
“We are committed to not only the needs of vulnerable children, but also to supporting staff and recognising the challenges and pressures they can face when doing their jobs in ensuring that children and families receive services to meet their needs.”
