Aberdeen’s social work staff hit with overtime ban

Aberdeen City Council’s social care and wellbeing department has been told to cut costs as it is £4.7 million over budget for the current financial year.

Workers in Aberdeen have been sent a list of cost-saving measures to make sure the department finishes the year on budget.

And one of the measures is that no overtime should be worked by Aberdeen staff unless necessary for covering the authority’s statutory services – or to prevent death or injury.

In addition, all overtime has to be agreed first by social work director Fred McBride or a head of service.

The measures have been revealed in a report to Aberdeen City Council’s social care and wellbeing committee from acting principal accountant Paul Dixon.

Staff have also been told admissions to Aberdeen’s care homes will be restricted to a minimum. The total social work budget is £111 million.

In October officers warned that the Aberdeen City Council department would be £5.2m over budget.

Mr Dixon’s report said it was hoped the new measures would reduce the overspend by around another £3.1m.

Social care convener Cllr Jim Kiddie said: “Social work budgets have been overspent for many years, but we are meeting these challenges.”

Tory councillor Alan Donnelly said: “If the director is confident of making these changes then I am not going to argue with him.”

Councillors in Aberdeen have already agreed to £23m budget cuts for the 2010/11 financial year and are expected to slash another £3m when they meet in February.