RECRUITMENT of 14 extra social workers can ‘only help’ children’s social care teams in Barnsley, a group of existing Barnsley social workers told a meeting at the town hall this week.
They had been invited to give evidence to councillors on the overview and scrutiny commission in a debate about the children’s social care and safeguarding assurance framework, during which councillors were shown a video of children in care talking about their experiences of social workers and the council.
Councillors repeatedly asked questions about the barriers that were in place to prevent social work being done effectively, and what the most significant pressures were.
Staff present said caseload was the one obvious pressure, but that recruitment had already started to fill the 14 additional roles after funding was approved by the council last month.
Councillors also asked about what was in place to allow social workers to discuss any problems or concerns they might have, either about a colleague, manager or child.
Staff assured councillors that there is a ‘culture of openness’ where constructive criticism is welcomed by both colleagues and managers.
There is an effective ‘buddy’ system where staff can report concerns on behalf of another anonymous colleague, and there are regular staff surveys where staff can report any concerns they may have anonymously.
Mel John-Ross, the council’s director for children’s social care and safeguarding, said: “We are very pleased to be able to say we will have 14 additional social workers. We have already appointed 11 from a shortlist of 22 candidates, and those positions which have not yet been filled will be very quickly.”
