The warning follows social workers in West Dunbartonshire raising repeated concerns over staffing shortages and overwhelming caseloads which has brought them to the brink of industrial action.
A statement issued by SASW said the use of sofas in emergencies has become more common in local authority residential units but usually only for one or two nights on a weekend.
"This kind of situation where a sofa is used for months at a time is unacceptable. Staff have acted appropriately in bringing this to the attention of managers and authorities.
"It is due to capacity issues with cuts in the number of residential places and private and secure residential places in Scotland being increasingly used to accommodate young people from England," it said.
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