Flintshire admit new low in skilled staff

Looked-after children in north east Wales are having their cases
allocated to unqualified staff because of a recruitment crisis.

A report by Flintshire Council states that some of its
children-in-need cases and “low-level” child protection
cases are being unallocated.

The problem is so severe the council is “fast
approaching” a situation where it will be unable to allocate
any child protection cases, the report adds.

Only six members of its children’s fieldwork team have
more than two years post-qualifying experience, and agency social
workers make up around a third of the workforce.

The report recommends a series of measures including attracting
more overseas workers and a recruitment campaign targeting London
to tackle the problem.