This in from the council, in their own words, Ed
Isle of Wight Council’s strategic partner, Hampshire County Council is working closely with experienced interim managers to design new services that are aimed at ensuring that children are better protected and that professionals have lower case loads with better managerial oversight.
Proposed changes
The proposals include:
- An end to the Island’s experimental ‘reclaiming social work’ model
- A 50 per cent increase in front line social workers from 32 posts to 48
- A 28 per cent increase in other related front line positions
- A 40 per cent reduction in senior managers
- All achieved within existing budgets
- New services for children in need, children leaving care or at risk of coming into care
- A drive to recruit more foster carers and adopters
- A new central point of contact for all professionals and public on the Island
Review and improve other services
The reforms do not end there as while this consultation focuses on the priority of children’s social care, managers have stated their intention to review and improve other services on the Island such as youth services, special educational needs services and other services which offer early help to families.
Cabinet member for children’s services, councillor Richard Priest said:
“I welcome these proposals which are aimed at addressing the problems that have been evident in our child protection system.
“It is a full and proper consultation and if there are ways in which we can improve the proposals we will be pleased to listen to those ideas.”
The consultation will run until 23 October after which final decisions will be made and staff appointed to posts in the new structure.
