The average caseload of social workers dealing with vulnerable children in Stoke-on-Trent has dropped sharply – thanks to effective early support.
New data revealed an average caseload of 17.3 in the second quarter this year – down from 18.6 in the first quarter. As recently as 2022/23, the figure stood at 22.0.
Smaller caseloads free up social workers to spend more time with individual families, meaning they can better support them to look after their children effectively.
The figures reflect a renewed focus on early support services, to prevent cases being escalated to the point where social workers have to intervene.
The new figures are more good news for the city after data showed a fall in the number of looked-after children. That figure currently sits at 1,094 and has been dropping since May 2024.
Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is even more great news for our children’s services teams – following on from the Catalyst programme being Highly Commended at the HSJ awards and the news that our Family Matters programme is bringing down the number of children in care.
“Our social workers do a fantastic job and smaller caseloads will mean they can work more closely with individual families, better supporting them to look after their children safely at home.
“More early support will mean that more children can remain safely with their families and fewer children need to come into care.”
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