Children could be kept away from their parents for too long

A judge has ordered Powys Council to return to court to explain why it failed to meet government deadlines and had not handed in vital documents on time.

The local authority responded by showing the court an advert in a trade paper trying to recruit 17 senior staff to its community services department.

Solicitors are worried the delays could mean children at the centre of contested abuse allegations could be kept in care for too long.

The high-profile criticism of the handling of some cases in the UK has put people off joining the profession Powys Council spokesman

A council spokesman said it was facing a delay of a couple of months in a small number of cases.

The local authority has placed an advert in a trade paper in an effort to recruit 10 social workers and seven senior managers, as well as 12 ancillary staff.

Contested allegations

"Powys, like many local authorities across Wales, is finding it difficult to recruit new staff," said the spokesman.

"The high-profile criticism of the handling of some cases in the UK has put people off joining the profession.

"Also, payment rates in Powys don't compare favourably with some south Wales authorities.

"Consequently caseloads have increased and the timescale of completing work is not what we would want."

One solicitor, who did not wish to be named, said the lack of social workers affected children removed from their parents in two ways.

"Those children who need to be returned to their parents are kept away for longer than necessary.

"And those children who should be permanently placed away from their parents are kept hanging around for longer than they should be."

"Nevertheless, I cannot criticise social workers because if they haven't got the staff they can't do the job."

Newtown-based solicitor Mike Davies, who sits on the panel which allows him to act on behalf of children in care cases, said: "There have always been complaints about a shortage of social services staff in the 15 years I have been on the panel."

"This is a question of resources, although I am not aware that the problem has escalated.

"The only problems I've come across are the occasional shortage of social services staff available to supervise contact with parents at weekends."

Deputy Children's Commissioner for Wales Sara Reed said the shortage of social workers was a nationwide problem.