Aberdeen Social Work Section Is Praised For Huge Reduction In Just Four Months

Aberdeen City Council’s under-fire social work department has been praised for saving £900,000 in four months by reducing the number of children it has placed in care outside the authority’s boundary.

A dedicated team established to cut the number of looked-after children living outside Aberdeen has already beaten its own target for April next year, by bringing 13 youngsters back into the city.

Problems with social work services in the city were highlighted this year in damning reports from the Social Work Inspection Agency and HM Inspectorate of Education.

Troubleshooter Philip Cotterill was recruited to overhaul the service, with reducing out-of-authority placements seen as a top priority.

A target was set of cutting the number of young people in secure and residential education outwith the authority from 42 to 30 by April next year. It emerged last night the council now had one young person in secure accommodation and 28 in residential schools outside Aberdeen.

It is understood three more youngsters are expected to be brought back to the city in the coming months.

The children are either back with their families with intensive support, in supported accommodation in Aberdeen, or living independently with help from social workers.

Council leader Kate Dean hailed the work of the dedicated team.

“This is a real achievement on the part of our social work service,” she said.

“The team only came together in the summer and with dedication to the task and good leadership, they have made a real difference to the lives of these young people in a matter of weeks.

“The city council, as corporate parent, has the best interests of the children at heart and has ensured that these vulnerable youngsters are back where they belong in Aberdeen and receiving the kind of care that most suits their needs.”

The saving was earmarked as part of February’s council budget cuts, with councillors expected to set a further target today of reducing spending on out-of-authority placements by £1.65million by the end of the next financial year.

Deputy council leader Kevin Stewart said: “The young people are now closer to their families and friends instead of being far from home, and they are receiving strong support from social workers.

“The people of Aberdeen can take confidence that we are making real progress in improving our children’s services and that we will build on this for the future.”