The Joke That Is "Social Services": June 2009

Birmingham Social Services

Fact File
Birmingham has 2,142 children in care, one of the highest proportions in England.
Some 40,000 live in households where violence is commonplace.
Absenteeism among children’s social care staff is out of control at an average 25 days a year per person.
Tony Howell, Strategic Director for Children Young People and Families, is at the helm of the shamed child protection service and earns an estimated £155,000 a year.
Budgets are continually overspent with the council paying up to £6,000 a week to keep children in residential homes.
Social worker job campaigns haven’t cut vacancy rates of almost 20 per cent.
Much money is wasted by placing children not at risk on the child protection register, to bolster or fake numbers of 'success rates'