Dumfries social work staff finally move out of run-down offices

SOCIAL work staff are finally moving out of dilapidated offices into a new site in Dumfries. The transfer starts this week to the council’s £1.3 million HQ for the department at the former social security building in Irish Street.

It will mark a move away from run down offices throughout the town which were heavily criticised by inspectors nearly four years ago.

The Social Work Inspection Agency had then urged the council to do something about several locations where staff were working under poor conditions.

Vice chairman of the social work committee, Councillor John Dougan, yesterday said moving to the site at 122-124 Irish Street would improve efficiency and help the service.

He said: “Since the SWIA report highlighted that a number of social work premises were not fit for the use of either staff or people who use our services, we have been looking for suitable alternatives.

“Whilst our preference is still to provide purpose built accommodation, the building on Irish Street is a vast improvement on the old premises. I know that many staff are looking forward to the move.”

The stand-out building in the middle of the town centre was once to feature in a retail regeneration plan by developers Centros Miller.

But after that scheme collapsed, the council bought the site at an auction last August.

Then, social work chairman Denis Male said 140 staff would be working in the building in six months and called it a “quick fix” of the issues with social work properties.

There are longer term hopes to build an £8 million social work hub at the site of the old district court in Buccleuch Street.

Services users and members of the public will be able to call into the new site from June 28.

Staff from the children and families, children with disabilities, older people, criminal justice, fostering and adoption, occupational therapy and sensory support departments will move to the site.

This includes workers from Gordon Street, Moffat Road, Catherine Street, 79 and 52b Buccleuch Street and some from Cresswell Gardens.

The new telephone number for the Irish Street building is 01387 273600.