Kirk faces social work crisis

Vulnerable children and family services are among those likely to be hit by a new wave of cost-cutting in care provision by the Church of Scotland.

The Kirk’s social work duties, called CrossReach, are being pared back as it struggles to cope with a £90m loss in the recession.

Church Care Council documents obtained by The Herald reveal a deficit approaching £2.5m in children’s services, job losses and the threat of the cuts or closure of

special schools such as Ballikinrain at Balfron, Stirlingshire, and Geilsland at Beith in Ayrshire.

Alastair McNish, chairman of a group charged with investigating care finances, said in one report: “The Church is haemorrhaging a massive amount of money in children’s services.”

Although £269,000 had been saved on salary costs last year after shedding an undisclosed number of jobs, children’s central services ran at a loss of £1.4m with a further shortfall of nearly £1m from one school alone as it struggles to maintain block bookings.

At Ballikinrain at Balfron and Geilsland School in Ayrshire, which both serve the Glasgow area, operating costs are greater than the income they receive from local authorities. Until now the shortfalls have been met by borrowing money from the Kirk’s central coffers, but this can no longer be done and gaps must be shored up by painful and “regrettable” cuts.

Care staff fear that without further funding the schools may close, even with current block bookings in place.

Insiders said that while those in residential homes – such as the vulnerable adults at Florentine House in Crosshill, Glasgow which is to close – are being found new places with other agencies, there would also inevitably be distress at upheaval. One social worker, who asked not to be named, added: “We are not sure yet if the schools will have to close, but they cannot keep running at a loss.”

Glasgow City Council, which can use any registered agency’s residential facilities, has already agreed to an increase of £400 per week per boy placed in Ballikinrain. That will take the rate to £3,300, but it is still below the weekly cost of £3,500 per child.

The documents show the Kirk hopes to save the schools but reveal the stark financial facts: “Ballikinrain should be retained assuming the current full-time equivalent of 24 boys is maintained throughout the year.

“The current provision at Geilsland should be continued provided a full-time equivalent of 18 boys can be secured from local authorities throughout the year.” But the report also said the end of one block booking of boys at Geilsland meant “a deficit of £990,000 … which is not sustain­able”.

CrossReach employs 2,000 across the country with 80 services involving children and families, old people and those with mental health problems. It has an annual expenditure of £45m.

The Kirk has closed a post-natal centre in the Borders, and Florentine House is to close in June. Jobs are being shed at CrossReach headquarters in Edinburgh and at Mission and Discipleship.

Peter Bailey, head of CrossReach, said: “The opportunities that are there for us in the future are exciting. The regrettable side is the things that we’ve had to carry out.”

Cutting ministers’ stipends or the number of ministers and abandoning parishes altogether are also under consideration.

The trade union Unite said it was “very concerned”.
 
The story of a painful mission

Gone: East Lodge Elm Row post-natal social work services for mothers in Galashiels was the only dedicated centre in the Borders to offer range of help. Closed in March.

Going: Florentine House for adults with learning difficulties in Glasgow’s south side. The residential care home for 24 men and women with learning difficulties and with 24 staff will close on June 14.

Going: Staff are to be axed across Mission and Discipleship, the body that recruits new members and is behind Christian education. The Kirk is trying to reduce its £1.2m deficit and the 44-strong department has been warned it will be reduced to just 24. Job losses feared at Life and Work magazine.

Facing cuts: Geilsland at Beith in Ayrshire is a school for boys aged 14 -18 with six day pupils and 22 full boarding students. It has 70 full time staff and 20 part time.

Facing cuts: Ballikinrain at Balfron in Stirlingshire, a special school for boys aged of 8 -14, with 10 day pupils and 36 boarders.

Going: Charis House, CrossReach headquarters in Edinburgh. Up to quarter of 80 staff already facing redundancy, now centralisation of services to Kirk main HQ in George Street in the capital is being mooted.