LGA conference: Social workers ‘must not become an easy target’

Ensuring social care workers do not become victims of a blame culture when there are failures must become a top priority, ministers have been warned.

With cuts set to stretch services even further, social services chiefs have warned frontline staff are now an easy target for blame.

“How risk is managed has to urgently be addressed. We are now in a volatile situation where services will go. There is a very real risk that people will be singled out by politicians and scape-goated.”

Key leaders from the sector –spanning both children and adults’ services – at the LGA conference in Bournemouth have revealed they are seeking reassurances from ministers as part of talks with the new government team.

Budget reductions will stretch critical departments such as children’s services and bring cuts in provision of care, including older people with long-term conditions.

Concern has been heightened by the High Court case of Sharon Shoesmith, which confirmed the powers secretaries of state have to intervene and order the sacking of directors.

The judge warned that sensitive jobs such as director of children’s services are now almost untenable.

A social services leader told LocalGov.co.uk: ‘How risk is managed has to urgently be addressed. We are now in a volatile situation where services will go. There is a very real risk that people will be singled out by politicians and scape-goated.

‘This is beyond cuts. This is about accountability and right now, given the way chief executives are being challenged by ministers, there is real fear that this is a taste of things to come.’