Recruits wanted for children's services at troubled council

CHILDREN’S Services bosses at under-fire Doncaster Council are to hold a recruitment event in a bid to attract more people to apply for social work jobs at the beleaguered authority.

Chris Pratt, who recently took charge of the department which is supposed to care for vulnerable children, said he hoped the event, at the town’s Keepmoat Stadium, would be a success.

Doncaster Council is currently undergoing a snap inspection by specialists from the Government’s Audit Commission, who were called in after a number of failings were highlighted.

A serious case review into the shocking Edlington attacks, in which two young brothers tortured two young boys, revealed that some social workers were reluctant to get involved with the family of the two young offenders involved.

Seven other vulnerable children have also died in the town, and Mr Pratt said it was now time to recruit new staff and focus on making an improvement to the much-criticised team.

He added: “We want to recruit and retain the best qualified social work staff to Doncaster as part of our long term vision to create a new and highly experienced team that is dedicated to delivering an outstanding children’s service.

“A great deal of progress has been made in recent months, and there is still so much more to be done.

“Through the work of our improvement plan we now have clear priorities to assist us in striving forward accelerated and continuous improvement and focus on the delivery of high quality outcomes for children and families.”

The council’s recruitment team will attend the event, which will take place between 5pm and 8pm next Monday, to answer questions about the application process and conditions of employment.

Coun Andrea Milner, the council’s children’s services spokesman added: “We are taking on the challenge to radically change and improve all the things that have gone wrong in the past and very much welcome experienced candidates to come and join us.”