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Orkney Council promises foster service improvements following ‘sobering’ inspection report

Orkney islands council
Orkney council chambers in Kirkwall. Image: Andrew Stewart/DC Thomson

Orkney Council has promised improvements to its foster service following a critical inspection report.

The authority says they have already “acted swiftly” to enact changes that were highlighted in the critical report.

It comes after the Care Inspectorate published the findings of their inspection on Tuesday, issuing the service some of the lowest grades possible.

One of the key problems highlighted in the report was the “chronic” lack of staff.

The lack of a registered manager for the service was raised as a reason for the inability to provide “core aspects” of the service and improvements being side-lined.

An Orkney Islands Council spokesman said the shortages are driving the issues raised in the “sobering” report.

But the council has now said an additional social worker will be joining the team in January and a training programme for foster carers began in November.

Orkney care staff shortage ‘part of national issue’

The significant challenges being faced in recruitment across Orkney’s social care workforce is in the context of a major national shortage.

It prompted the council’s interim chief executive, John Mundell to write to the Scottish Government back in October.

Mr Mundell said: “The issue is one that is being experienced across the country but the difficulties we are experiencing in recruiting to social care and social work roles are particularly pronounced and present significant risk.

“Despite our best efforts to date, our social work team has been operating for some time whilst significantly understaffed.

Orkney to provide social work traineeships

In an effort to improve the staffing levels, the council has announced a partnership with the Open University to provide social work traineeships.

These will build upon people’s existing qualifications and place them into the social work degree course at an appropriate place.

Orkney Arctic
Orkney Council will be forging a partnership with the Open University. Picture by Sandy McCook.

So far, the council says they have generated over 20 expressions of interest and three members of staff will begin the course in February. They will potentially qualify in 18-24 months.

They hope in the long term it will improve and stabilise the workforce.

Orkney Council: ‘Staffing will be a challenge’

Orkney Health and Social Care Partnership chief officer, Stephen Brown, said: “We are truly sorry that the service has not been as it should, and we have to find ways to make improvements.

“But this will be a challenge especially trying to find suitably qualified and experienced permanent staff in the midst of a persistent national shortage.

“Whilst we absolutely recognise that the service being provided has not been at a level that it should, this is through no fault of the staff on the ground.

“Our leadership team are spending time to further consider how we might possibly meet these challenges.”

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