Children's Services Leadership, Workforce, Caseloads, and Safeguarding Reviews
Re: Freedom of Information Request - Local Authority Children's Services I write with a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please could you provide me with the following details: Leadership 1. The name of the Statutory Director of Social Services and how long they have been in post. 2. Within the council, please provide the name of the Cabinet member for Children Services and/or social services, as well as how long they have been in post. 3. The name of the Chair of your Local Safeguarding Children Board and/or the regional Safeguarding Children Board with which your authority is engaged and how long they have been in post. Workforce Amongst Children's Social Workers, over the period 1st October 2023 - 30th September 2024 please provide: 1. Total FTE Children's Social Workers (not including Senior Social Workers or Team Leaders). 2. Total FTE Senior Social Workers, Team Leaders, Managers. 3. Total FTE Newly Qualified Social Workers in role for less than 2 years. 4. Total FTE Staff for which occupational qualifications are required or recommended in social work services for children. 5. % Turnover rate 6. % Agency worker rate 7. % Vacancy rate 8. % Absence rate Caseloads 9. % Case holders amongst children's social workers on the date of this request. 10. Number of cases held by children's social workers on the date of this request. 11. Number of cases held by children's social workers on 31st March for the preceding five years: 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20. 12. The average number of cases held by individual social workers on the date of this request. 13. The average number of cases held by individual social workers on 31st March for the preceding five years: 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20. Reviews 14. The Number of Child Single Unified Safeguarding Reviews that have been undertaken in 2024/25 for children's social workers. 15. The Number of Child Practice Reviews undertaken in the years 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20 for children's social workers. Clarification requested and response: In relation to question 9 does this include FIT workers, support workers etc.? This is referring to Children's Social workers. In relation to question 14 please advise what is meant by 'for children's social workers'? A SUSR is not held against a social worker but against multiple agencies. Please provide the number of SUSR completed in general across the multiple agencies. In relation to question 15, again, please advise what is meant by 'for children's social workers'? A CPR is not held against a social worker but against multiple agencies. Please provide the number of CPR completed in general across the multiple agencies.