Barnardo's slams ministers over funding for YOI social work

According to the charity, half of social worker posts in YOIs are vacant due to a dispute surrounding funding for the roles, which were created five years ago.

Councils are responsible for providing social work support to young offenders but say there is still not a formal funding structure in place to help them pay for roles in YOIs.
 
The charity received an assurance last October from the Department of Children, Schools and Families and Ministry of Justice that the dispute would be solved.

However, according to Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey, "since then, the situation has not improved".

He said: "Ministers need to bang heads together now so that these vital posts are re-established without further delay."

He added that young offenders are increasingly at risk of self-harm and suicide the longer the dispute rumbles on.

A DCSF spokesman said that councils have a legal responsibility to provide social work services to all children in need, including those in custody, but that funding YOI social workers was just one of the ways this could be achieved.

The DCSF spokesman added: "We are aware of the current issues around the provision of social work services and are actively exploring with the Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) and with government offices what more we can do to ensure local authorities fulfil their responsibilities in this regard."

Andrew Webb, ADCS policy lead on youth justice, confirmed that it was in discussions with the government and Youth Justice Board, which initially funded social worker roles in YOIs.

He added: "We believe that ministers must find a way to ensure that vulnerable children and young people get the support that they need, wherever they happen to be. 

"If such a solution cannot be found, it may be that we need to look at each YOI on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the financial burden does not fall unfairly on host authorities."