Stress to blame for social work sick leave
stress has been blamed stress for the high sickness levels among Doncaster's social workers.
Liberal Democrat researchers say latest figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show social workers in the borough took 16 days off in a year – over a third more than the national average of 11.8.
They also found 24 of the borough's social workers had taken more than 20 days' sick leave during the one-year period.
Liberal Democrat Children and Families Spokesperson Annette Brooke said: "These shocking figures show the impact of the huge stresses that social workers are under.
"There is also the added stress of the profession being demonised in the wake of the Baby P tragedy, which has undoubtedly put many people off becoming social workers."
She called for the government to pay for more backroom staff to take the pressure off social workers and allow them do their jobs properly.
"Social workers should also have the opportunity to complete secondments with other professionals working in child protection, such as the Police and schools.
"This would give them a break from the front line and ensure better communication and understanding between child protection professionals."
Social workers in Doncaster have been under scrutiny since the Government took control of the borough's children's services earlier this year because of concerns over child protection after the deaths of a number of children in the borough known to social services.
The borough has plans in place to transform its children's services department and is taking on a number of new staff.
A Doncaster Council spokesman said: "Doncaster had a large number of agency staff during the period covered by this data.
"The improvement strategies we have adopted over the last six months mean we have now appointed a team of social workers within the authority who are supplementing the existing teams.
"Doncaster social workers do a very difficult job. They always put the families of Doncaster first."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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