Attacks on staff up 20%

The period between July 1997 and June 1998 saw a total of 1,963 recorded incidents involving social workers, home care workers and members of staff in residential homes and day care centres.

The total, a nine per cent rise on the previous year, includes accidents such as falls, scalds, car accidents and even flea bites - but the biggest single category is assaults which totalled 1,095.

However, the number of serious accidents which must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive dropped slightly from 102 to 98.

Council managers welcomed the reduction in the incidents classed as 'serious' but continue to be concerned at the rising numbers of reported assaults on members of staff. A report to members of the social services committee said: "The total number of accidents reported continues to rise, up nine per cent from last year to 1,963. The main cause of these accidents is violence, with over half resulting from assaults.

"The number of assaults has risen by 19 per cent across the social services directorate as a whole and by 33 per cent in the children's division. The top priority for safety work is the formulation and implementation of an effective policy on violence."

Simon Jenkins, of social services, said the violence policy, currently in draft form, allowed for a programme of training to help social services staff defuse difficult situations and in some cases physically restrain people.

"The vast majority of these assaults are in our learning disabilities section. They are people in our day centres and residential homes and it isn't a premeditated thing. They don't want to harm members of staff, but often they are expressing themselves or attracting attention by nipping or pulling hair.

"There are also reported incidents in children's residential homes. The children can be disturbed and can be violent."

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