The report of the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care) (Document “Y”) presents the most recent information on the workload of Children’s Social Work Teams and updates Members on key pressures on the service. The workload analysis is based on activity up to 30^th September 2016.

There has been a slight change to the overall workloads of social workers, and pressures upon the service since the last report was presented. The report demonstrates that Social Work Services for Children & Young People in the District remain strong, robust and well managed.

Recommended -

That the Committee consider further reports in the 2016-17 work programme to ensure the continuation of safe workloads and practice into the future given the current financial climate.

                                                (Di Watherston - 01274 437077)

The report of the Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care)

(Document “Y”) presented the most recent information on the workload of Children’s Social Work Teams and updated Members on key pressures on the service. The workload analysis was based on activity up to 30^th September 2016.

There had been a slight change to the overall workloads of social workers, and pressures upon the service since the last report was presented. The report demonstrated that Social Work Services for Children & Young People in the District remained strong, robust and well managed.

A number of social workers attended the meeting and spoke about their experience of working in Children’s Social Care Services.  They reported that newly qualified social workers experienced high levels of challenge and support with formal training and a development plan and a reduced workload.  Staff retention had improved, staff morale was high and the number of agency staff had reduced.  Positive support was received from experienced social workers.

The following responses were given to member questions and comments made:

·         The quantity and quality of work undertaken by social workers was regularly monitored.

·         All team managers were challenged to undertake a random case audit each month and grade work as outstanding, good, adequate of inadequate.  The majority of work is graded was adequate. 

·         Officers were in the process of collating the responses to the staff survey which would be reported to members.

·         With respect to the number of agency workers employed for over 12 months members were advised that an individual could be employed to cover a number  of different posts which would effect these statistics.  It was not in the authority’s interest to employ agency workers other than to cover sickness or maternity leave.  It was noted that 25% of social workers in Kirklees were agency workers and it had received an Ofsted rating of inadequate.  The percentage of agency social workers in London and Birmingham was high which was not the case in Bradford.

·         The trends that had been identified for children becoming subject to a plan for the second time within 2 years were; transient movement out of and into the district; chronic neglect and domestic abuse.

·         Bradford had a good reputation for newly qualified social workers in their Assessment and Supported Year in Employment.

·         Formal and informal supervision was provided for social workers.  It was acknowledged that Bradford was a complex community which made the job of social workers challenging and difficult and staff did move.

·         The sickness analysis showed that stress was an issue, which was not confined only to Bradford but all other social work departments nationally.  There was a need to support staff in building resilliance.

·         Work was being undertaken to identify hot spots and pressure points to balance workloads.  Discussions were taking place about moving people from other sections but this was not undertaken routinely as specialist knowledge was required in specific areas.

·         With reference to the increase in the number of referrals received per month compared to the year before, this was set against the backdrop of an increased awareness of neglect and that Bradford was Britain’s youngest city with a growing child population of 2,000 per year.  The early help agenda was based on the premise that earlier engagement   with families should reduce the possibility of the situation escalating.

·         Reference was made to the increase in the number of child protection cases held by less experienced social workers and the fact that relatively there were still fewer children subject to a plan in Bradford than nationally and whether the thresholds in Bradford were too high and were pressures being put on staff such as school nurses rather than social workers.  In response it was stressed that the number of children on Child Protection Plans was a aggregate figure.  There was an emphasis on children not being on a child Protection Plan for a day longer than necessary.  It was stressed that early help was the gateway to reducing the number of children on a Child Protection Plan or becoming looked after.  There were 50 Community Response Workers who could work with children when their involvement with statutory services ended.

·         In the instances where public law cases were not allocated to an experienced social worker the social worker would receive support from experienced social workers and managers.

·         Discussions were taking place with social workers on individual case loads and ensuring that the grading structure reflected the complexity of cases and not just the overall number.

·         It would not be possible to establish a bank of social workers to deploy when required as the authority would not be able to match the agency rates of pay.

·         The Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder referred to the reductions in public sector funding and the necessity to do things differently in the public sector as a whole.

The Deputy Director Children’s Social Care reported to members that in furtherance of Bradford’s pledge to take 10 unaccompanied asylum seeker children, six children aged 16-17 had already arrived and four girls aged 16-17 would arrive the next week direct from France.  A further three children would arrive from France under a public agreement to join extended family members in Bradford.

Resolved -

(1)          That the Social workers be thanked for their attendance.

(2)          That the Committee consider further reports in the 2016-17 work programme to ensure the continuation of safe workloads and practice into the future given the current financial climate and changing demographics.

(3)          That further updates be requested three times a year and the results of the staff survey be included in the first report.

(4)          That future reports include information relating to the Service’s key performance indicators.

ACTION:        Deputy Director (Children’s Social Care)

                                                (Di Watherston - 01274 437077)