Sick-note social work staff take a month off

Social work staff in the north-east were off sick for an average of more than a month each last year, it can be revealed.

New figures show the 1,597 employees in Aberdeen City Council’s social care department were absent for an average of 22.2 working days in 2010-11.

The statistics prompted the local authority’s social work convener, Jim Kiddie, to call last night for a “detailed investigation”.