£ 4.3m social work service underspend

SOCIAL ser vi c e s looking after the c i t i e s m o s t vulnerable residents deserve more funding according to Glasgow councillors.

The issue was raised at the local authority’s scrutiny committee last week where a financial performance report was submitted to members.

It highlighted that there was a £ 1.3 million net underspend in services looking after older people or those with a disability and a £ 3.075m net underspend in the children and families department.

Labour councillor Maggie McTernan said: “I have noticed that there does seem to be a significant underspend in social work.

“That seems to me to be counter intuitive in the current situation. I would expect social services to have more funding particularly for children and families.

“That is particularly concerning because I am thinking of some of our most vulnerable residents who will be isolated, at home and shielding who are not getting the support they need.

“It says there has been a delay in the recruitment of the community support teams. It seems to me that we are underspending in community support.

“I would like to know what is being done to address this.”

A would council officer advised that social services be contacted and made aware of this concern.

She said: “This is something I would like to get further comment on from social work services. Over the last couple of years as councillor Andrew indicated previously, social work does have a significant amount of reform.

“Therefore, we have seen ongoing savings in a number of areas particularly in children and families as they have implemented different ways of working that has generated reduction in terms of their budget.

“They will have significantly been affected by Covid- 19 but I think that is something I would want to take back to them. I think they are managing their coronavirus costs separately.

“I will provide a response on this in the next question and answer session.”