Royal Borough launches investigation into its use of temporary social workers
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the use of temporary social workers at the Royal Borough.
The council's Employment Panel has commissioned a report into use of temporary staff in the adult and children's social care sectors after the Observer exclusively revealed the costs in employing temporary social care staff had skyrocketed.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday at the Guildhall, in High Street, Windsor, council leader David Burbage said: "The increase is due to a lack of social workers across the country, I am told at the Employment Panel on July 18 concerns were raised and a report has been commissioned."
A Royal Borough spokeswoman confirmed a report into the use of temporary social workers by the council is to be presented at an Employment Panel meeting on August 20.
When asked by Cllr Lynne Jones if he felt the Royal Borough was providing an adequate service, Cllr Burbage said: "We do believe we are providing a good service for our residents."
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the Observer revealed the cost to the Royal Borough to temporary staff in the children-in-need team rose from a monthly high of £7,376 in 2012 to £53,928 in 2013.
There is a similar story in the disabled children's team where £42,851 was spent in February this year compared to a 2012 high in November of £21,684.
A FoI submitted by the Royal Borough branch of Unison also revealed the number of agency workers employed by the council in children services between February and April 2013 rose to 64 from 46 in the same period the previous year.
Sources:
The council's Employment Panel has commissioned a report into use of temporary staff in the adult and children's social care sectors after the Observer exclusively revealed the costs in employing temporary social care staff had skyrocketed.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday at the Guildhall, in High Street, Windsor, council leader David Burbage said: "The increase is due to a lack of social workers across the country, I am told at the Employment Panel on July 18 concerns were raised and a report has been commissioned."
A Royal Borough spokeswoman confirmed a report into the use of temporary social workers by the council is to be presented at an Employment Panel meeting on August 20.
When asked by Cllr Lynne Jones if he felt the Royal Borough was providing an adequate service, Cllr Burbage said: "We do believe we are providing a good service for our residents."
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the Observer revealed the cost to the Royal Borough to temporary staff in the children-in-need team rose from a monthly high of £7,376 in 2012 to £53,928 in 2013.
There is a similar story in the disabled children's team where £42,851 was spent in February this year compared to a 2012 high in November of £21,684.
A FoI submitted by the Royal Borough branch of Unison also revealed the number of agency workers employed by the council in children services between February and April 2013 rose to 64 from 46 in the same period the previous year.
Share this image
The council's Employment Panel has commissioned a report into use of temporary staff in the adult and children's social care sectors after the Observer exclusively revealed the costs in employing temporary social care staff had skyrocketed.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday at the Guildhall, in High Street, Windsor, council leader David Burbage said: "The increase is due to a lack of social workers across the country, I am told at the Employment Panel on July 18 concerns were raised and a report has been commissioned."
A Royal Borough spokeswoman confirmed a report into the use of temporary social workers by the council is to be presented at an Employment Panel meeting on August 20.
When asked by Cllr Lynne Jones if he felt the Royal Borough was providing an adequate service, Cllr Burbage said: "We do believe we are providing a good service for our residents."
A Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the Observer revealed the cost to the Royal Borough to temporary staff in the children-in-need team rose from a monthly high of £7,376 in 2012 to £53,928 in 2013.
There is a similar story in the disabled children's team where £42,851 was spent in February this year compared to a 2012 high in November of £21,684.
A FoI submitted by the Royal Borough branch of Unison also revealed the number of agency workers employed by the council in children services between February and April 2013 rose to 64 from 46 in the same period the previous year.