FROM March 14 to 30 this year, 1,000 social workers took part in an online survey with the following results: 85 per cent of workers experienced notable cuts in services in the last year; 78 per cent have noticed cuts or unfilled vacancies; the use of unqualified workers is on the rise and caseloads are unmanageable for 77 per cent of social workers.

Nearly half of social workers operate in the sort of environment that makes safe practice impossible, with 46 per cent stating they are afraid to speak out about specific concerns for fear of repercussions.

And 53 per cent go as far as to state that administrative overload could have tragic results for service users as direct work can get lost behind mountains of manual work.

In view of these results, the British Association of Social Workers has written to Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State at the Department of Health, and Michael Grove at the Department of Education, asking for an immediate difference to the delivery of social services in England.

Val MacLeod, Retired social worker, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York