Wolverhampton social workers dealing with TWICE as many children as they should
Social workers in Wolverhampton are dealing with more than double the recommended level of children's cases.
Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) working for Wolverhampton council's safeguarding team have had average caseloads of up to 111 children this year.
The figure was released in the authority's annual safeguarding service, which states the recommended caseload for an IRO as between 50 and 70 children.
IROs work independently of other social workers and provide the vital role of ensuring the case plans of children in care are followed.
Council bosses say the high caseloads are down to the high numbers of looked-after children in the city.
The number of looked after children in the city is among the highest in the country, at around 708. Earlier this year the figure reached an all-time high of 780.
Councillor Val Gibson, Wolverhampton council's cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, said: "The caseloads of IROs are very high and it is something we have been concerned about for some time.
"We are dealing with a lack of resources as well as a large number of children in care, two issues which have contributed greatly to the problem.
"This year the number of looked after children has dropped significantly, which will have helped with IRO caseloads."
The report was presented to the authority's Corporate Parenting Board and showed that in March 2014 the average IRO caseload was 103 children.
The figure was 106 in March this year and has since risen to 111.
Wolverhampton council employs nine full time IROs and there is also one agency staff member in post.
The report also noted that despite the high caseloads IROs were performing well in terms of completing reviews with children and family members.
In March 2014 a total of 92.5 per cent of reviews were completed, while this year the figure increased to 98 per cent.
The report said: "This is a positive figure considering the higher number of reviews held. The figure will need to be maintained, however, the focus now needs to move towards ensuring the quality of that participation."
It added: "The increase in the number of looked after children, and the number of reviews over the last year has put a strain on the IRO service, on placements and on the social work teams.
"This increase and its impact will need to be monitored over the next 12 months.
"The increasing caseloads of IROs has an impact on their ability to monitor the progress of cases where some areas of shortfall have been identified."
