BRADFORD has seen a reduction in numbers of social workers over recent months and the gaps are being plugged with agency workers.

Statistics presented to Bradford Council’s children’s services scrutiny committee show numbers of social workers employed by the authority have been reduced due to staff leaving.

Julie Jenkins, the council’s assistant director for children’s specialist services, told councillors numbers of agency workers had been raised as a result. They are more expensive to employ but in Bradford account for around seven per cent of the workforce, which is less than many authorities.

“Agency staff are more expensive and there comes a point where we could not afford any more. But we cannot afford not to have them and we will find the money from somewhere,” she told the meeting.