Pressure on social services in Cardiff remains a pressing issue as a result of staff absences and heightened demand for services, as reported by Wales Online. According to a council official, low success rates at universities will further exacerbate the strain on social services in Cardiff.
During a recent meeting of the children and young people scrutiny committee, Sarah Skuse, operational manager for assessment and care planning at Cardiff Council, presented an end-of-year performance report for children’s services. While progress has been noted in enhancing children’s services, significant challenges persist. Ms Skuse highlighted concerns, stating, “There are still lots of challenges for us.”
One of the key factors intensifying the pressure on social services is the low success rates at local universities offering social work courses. This has resulted in recruitment difficulties for Cardiff Council, with social worker vacancies standing at 15.8% this year, down from 27.3% in the previous period. However, despite efforts to address staffing shortages, demand has surged, with referrals to the multi-agency safeguarding hub rising from 25,323 to 28,460.
Ms Skuse expressed optimism for the future, noting that students supported through qualifications are expected to graduate next year, bolstering the workforce. While the number of sickness days taken by children’s services employees has decreased compared to previous years, it falls below the council’s target. Cllr Ash Lister, cabinet member for children’s services, acknowledged that staff are operating in a stressful environment, contributing to some of the sickness leave.
Ms Skuse emphasised the importance of monitoring sickness rates and supporting staff to return to work promptly. The council is witnessing a shift towards a more permanent staffing structure, enabling better management of sickness absences. Challenges remain, with instances of illness linked to work-related incidents and other health issues.
The ongoing strains facing social services in Cardiff underscore the need for sustainable solutions to ensure the well-being of both staff and service users. As the council works towards addressing these challenges, collaboration and support will be crucial in managing the complexities of social care provision in the city.