Perthshire’s social work record under microscope

COUNCILLORS are being given the chance to challenge an expert’s view that social work services in Perthshire “work effectively”.

An elected members’ meeting to be held tomorrow is due to hear from the local authority’s chief social work officer Bill Atkinson, whose annual service report will be put in the spotlight.

In the paper, Mr Atkinson has stated that he believes Perth and Kinross Council is geared up to cope with its workload over the next 12 months, despite the expectation of a recession-fuelled increase in pressure on the existing demand for social workers.

“I am confident the governance arrangements within the council will ensure any such additional burdens and their impact will be brought to the attention of the council leadership,” the chief officer said yesterday.

“Social work resources within Perth and Kinross are finite, but leadership operates to make these resources as effective and efficient as possible.”

Mr Atkinson’s report reveals that referrals to the area’s social workers relating to ‘cause for concern’ situations concerning children exposed to parental substance misuse and domestic abuse had risen by a fifth.

“In children’s services the main challenge continues to arise from the increase in cause for concern referrals, mainly from the police, and the difficulty in recruiting carers for teenage children,” he declared.

“Whilst this demonstrates strong inter-agency working between police and social work staff it does place pressures on the social work system.

“Children have to be accommodated and cared for, and if necessary, permanent plans made for them.”

The report also points out that following a review of services the number of people with a learning disability living in their own tenancy had risen from 31 to 80, and is expected to climb to 105 by March.

“This is a significant achievement,” said Mr Atkinson.