Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to approve a extension to a contract with Ipswich-based Innovate Children & Young People’s Services (CYPS) to provide managed team support (quality control and assurance) to the council’s child safeguarding service (pdf).
CYPS were initially awarded a 6-month contract to provide managed support to the council’s Information, Advice and Assistance (IAA) team to deal with unprecedented demand. This contract was later extended by another 6 months and is currently set to expire in March 2023.
BCBC’s Cabinet is set to extend the CYPS contract by a further 12 months (until March 2024) with an option to extend it twice for further 12-month terms.
The report lays bare the recruitment problems facing social services more generally. It cites warnings from Care Inspectorate Wales and the Institute of Public Care that staffing levels need to be maintained to “ensure that the service can discharge its statutory duties in respect of safeguarding and child protection of children”. Cancelling the contract or switching to another provider may impact this.
“Any change in supplier would mean a significant risk of a gap in service provision which would mean the Council could not meet statutory duties and regulators would need to be immediately advised this is the case.”
The report also warns that suspending procurement rules to award the contract without any competition may result in a challenge from alternative providers. However, this needs to be balanced against the council’s need to provide minimum levels of service.
The annual value of the contract is just over £97,500, with the cost over three years – if BCBC exercises its extension options – being £293,000.
Social worker shortages force the council to look overseas
CYPS have faced its own challenge finding enough qualified social workers willing to work in Bridgend. Vacancies in the IAA team are said to be between 50-60%.
While Bridgend Council has focused on internal recruitment and training – 8 staff are reportedly on social work courses – these new social workers may not qualify until 2025.
To fill vacancies, BCBC has started the process of recruiting up to 20 qualified social workers from abroad. This poses another problem for the council as international social workers need to have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before appointment under police vetting guidelines.
