Social work overspend

SOCIAL work services will require a second top-up of finances this year due to “homelessness pressures”.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s social work department typically reports an overspend annually, partly because millions are blown every year on extortionate fees for placing kids in private care homes outwith the region.
Social work chiefs are currently working on plans to reduce this expensive practice, but they were also given responsibility for homeless services this year.
A budget of £6.136m was set aside for running the service and finding temporary accommodation for homeless people, but £3.447m was spent up to September 30 – and an overall overspend of nearly £1m is now being projected.
A report, due to be tabled at the council’s social work committee next week, reads: “In recognition of the residential and fostering placements challenges the 2024/25 agreed budget reflected significant additional investment of £3.135 million to support the social work services budget as part of an agreed investment and mitigation plan.
“This investment was intended to reduce the number of external and out of region residential placements, through providing additional support and intervention and increasing the number of intensive foster carers.
“It is anticipated that further additional investment will be required from the corporate budget pressures funding to support the homelessness pressures.”
A housing crisis is being experienced in the region due to a shortage of properties, which resulted in nearly 700 cases last year where B&Bs were used as temporary homeless accommodation.
Money is now being shifted around in the social work budget to help balance the books. This includes delays to the implementation of the additional investment measures and a projected underspending on staff costs.
The council report states: “There remains significant financial pressures which are unlikely to be fully mitigated by the end of the financial year and may require the application of non-recurring resources from the social work support fund (£1 million) at the end of the financial year.”