HIRING children’s social workers on temporary contracts cost the council more than £2 million last year.

Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) children’s services has experienced a surge in the number of children needing support in previous years and the department has struggled to keep hold of permanent social worker staff.

A recent Ofsted inspection report of the services claimed the high turnover of staff contributed to “a lack of continuity and a loss of momentum, resulting in a kind of ‘start again social work’.”

A Freedom of Information request showed WBC spent £2,137,411 on agency social workers in 2018/2019 – almost £700,000 more than neighbouring authority Bracknell Forest Council spent in the same period.

Liberal Democrats councillor Prue Bray told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Lib Dems remain seriously concerned about the level of spending on agency social workers.

“The extra expense for the council is a problem – but so is the fact that temporary staff simply can’t offer the stability that vulnerable children need.

“We are happy to talk to the Conservative administration about what else could be done to try to recruit permanent staff.”

WBC committed to spending £1 million on recruiting permanent social workers when it announced its budget for 2019/2020 in February 2019.

This came after Ofsted claimed there had been a ‘deterioration’ in the department following a November 2018 inspection, but since then officers have claimed the services are “moving in the right direction.

However, Ofsted also commended department director Carol Cammiss and Chief Executive Susan Parsonage in its most recent review of the service, claiming changes made since November had led to a “renewed optimism” from other staff.

Councillor UllaKarin Clark, WBC’s children’s services lead member, said: “Children’s social care in Wokingham has for a considerable amount of time found it extremely difficult to recruit some permanent members of staff.

“The reasons for this are complex, and the authority has attempted a number of initiatives to improve its staffing position.

“However, like most local authorities in the region, it has been difficult to fill these posts on a permanent basis.

“There is a national shortage of social workers, particularly in the south of England and this has largely contributed to Wokingham’s difficulties.

“An agency worker will work for the council on a temporary basis and for a limited period of time and will be used to fill a vacancy that has not been possible to recruit to.”

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The council spent £213,386 on adult’s social care workers in 2018/2019 – 90 per cent less than the fee for children’s services carers.