Council set to recruit 33 social workers from overseas in bid to curb runaway costs

 A WORRYING note has been sounded  on North East Lincolnshire Council's spending.

Based on the first three month of this financial year, a report says the authority is set to overspend its 2022-23 budget by as much as £7.9-million.

This is largely being attributed to the ever-increasing costs of paying for the upbringing of dozens of children being put into care for their own welfare.

There is a shortfall in local placement capacity for many of these young people, so facilities are having to be found elsewhere in the country.  

In other circumstances, high-cost agency staff are being engaged.

On a hopeful note, the report to a forthcoming cabinet meeting states: "The recruitment of 33 overseas social workers is expected to reduce the overspend over the remainder of the financial year.

"They should be in post at some time next month."

The council has not said from which country or countries, these social workers are being recruited - nor indicated their required levels of competence. 

Like everyone, the council is also being squeezed by inflation, but it says it still intends, with the help of external grants, to press ahead with "an ambitious £81-million programme of capital investment".