Social work training in Canada is similar to the UK

Advertisements have been placed in the national press in Canada in the hope of recruiting six for Denbighshire.

Another Welsh council, Blaenau Gwent, has already taken on six Canadian social workers.

It comes amid a shortage of social workers in Wales, with more than 180 vacant posts.

There are nine qualified social work vacancies in the children and family services department in Denbighshire, including one team manager post.

Interviews are expected to take place this week.

"The situation in Denbighshire reflects the national shortage of qualified social workers," said county councillor John Smith.

Empty posts

"We are doing everything within our power to recruit more social workers, as it's our main priority to make sure that children are kept safe and receive the best possible service."

Social workers are being recruited from Canada because the training and qualifications gained are similar to those in the UK.

With 184 social work vacancies in Wales, the worst affected authority is Cardiff County Council, which has 30 unfilled posts.

A Cardiff spokesman said that although it was the highest paying council in Wales - with social workers able to expect an annual salary of �30,000 - it still hadrecruitment problems.

This is largely due to the long process of qualifying as a social worker, about five years in total.

Blaenau Gwent council recently appointed six Canadians as it could not attract any candidates from Wales.

Torfaen council, which has 12 empty posts has employed people from Kenya and Romania.

The new social workers are expected to arrive in Denbighshire between August and October.