‘Failing’ councils spending on agency social workers rises by 50 per cent

The Telegraph

23 May 2016

Spending by ‘failing’ councils on agency social workers has risen by 50 per cent in three years prompting experts to raise concerns over vulnerable children and their families receiving inadequate care.

In the last three years councils have spent more than £500m on agency social workers, who can be paid double that of permanent staff doing the equivalent job.

An undercover investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches, to be broadcast on Thursday, reveals the challenges social services face in trying to prevent any more tragic child deaths.

It sent Freedom of Information requests to more than 200 councils across the UK asking them about their use of agency workers in their Children’s Services department.

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