Bradford Council spends millions on children's services agency staff

A new Children and Families Trust came into force in April to make a fresh start for the city's young people - taking over the running of children's and social care services from the Council.

Now, 'deeply troubling' statistics have emerged after the Telegraph & Argus submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for the total amount of money spent by the Council on agency staff in the Children’s Services department between 2018 and 2023;

• 2018/19 -   4,246,158
• 2019/20  -  10,346,123
• 2020/21  -  16,339,200
• 2021/22  -  21,076,367
• 2022/23 -   29,808,989

Questions have now been raised about how spending had been “allowed to snowball over so many years”.

The Council said it represents a national issue, with the number of children in England’s care system at its highest level on record.

Spending on agency staff increased by 603 per cent over the past five years alone - despite the number of permanent staff rising by 494 during the same period.

That sharp rise in headcount is linked to a significant structural change during 2020, where an additional service area was brought into the children’s services department.

City Hall (Image: T&A)

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservative group at Bradford Council, said: “It’s been a long term picture that hasn’t been dealt with quickly enough in order to get permanency of staff. It’s dragged on for many years and hit a real downward point with the Ofsted. The issue’s never been grasped and dealt with.

“There’s some good things in place now but they should have been in place five years ago. It’s five years too late.

“There are new things happening now and we will await to see with the trust taking over how the agency figures look.”

Speaking about the Government’s investment in the new trust, Cllr Poulsen said: “The Council has had more money than other areas. 

“When the trust was set up, the Government put a certain amount into that but they had extra money to help support setting up the trust. 

“The trust has to work. It’s children’s lives and wellbeing at risk here. We need to do what we can to make sure it’s a success.”

Cllr Matt Edwards, leader of the Green party at Bradford Council, said: "Whilst it's true to say that Bradford is not alone facing issues with funding, we can't ignore the fact that Children's Services in our district was deemed to be so bad it had to be removed from council control.

"The largest Ofsted report was very clear the failure of leadership right at the top of Children's Services to grasp just how serious the situation was a major contributing factor to this mess. These figures show that.

"Given the pressures on council finance, it is deeply troubling to see such a significant rise in the cost of agency staff and that this has been allowed to snowball over so many years.

"Now the trust has been established, it is important that we give it the opportunity to get on with this absolutely crucial job. There is nothing more important than the safety and wellbeing of young people in Bradford district.

"We need to see more experienced, permanent staff working in the Trust and that means making Bradford a place experienced social workers want to come work and make a difference."

The Council has come under heavy scrutiny for its handling of Children Services in the past decade.

Earlier this year, a damning Ofsted report found young people were being left “at risk of harm” due to “widespread and serious failures across all areas of Children’s Services”.

Star Hobson, pictured, was murdered by her mother's girlfriend, Savannah Brockhill. Star's mother Frankie Smith was convicted of causing or allowing her death (Image: PA)

It came after the Council was stripped of its responsibility for Children’s Services after the tragic death of Star Hobson.

Cllr Sue Duffy, Bradford Council's Portfolio Holder for Children and Families, said: “We know that Children’s Services in Bradford has faced significant issues over recent years. These are well documented and we have worked with the Government to take action and to set up the Bradford Children and Families Trust. 

“But many of the challenges facing children’s social care are national ones that are also happening in other parts of the country, not just in Bradford. Most local authorities are facing both rising costs and increased demand.”

The Council said it has launched a new social work academy, recruited qualified social workers from overseas, and is working with partners to strengthen families’ support in the early years.

Cllr Duffy added: “The new Bradford Children and Families Trust is making Bradford an attractive place to work for permanent social workers looking for a rewarding career. But we also need to see sustained action at a national level by Government to invest in social workers and provide the right level of support for local authorities to help them meet the increased demand for these services.”