Rise in staff sickness rates in Dorset Children's Services

Sickness rates for staff in Dorset children’s services have increased – many of the absences due to work related stress.

Councillors have been told that there has been an upward trend in sickness levels for many months with both short and long-term absences around a third higher that expected levels.

The department has continued to work as normally as possible during the pandemic with many social workers continuing to carry out face to face home visits and also dealing with an increasing number of complex cases.

During the past 18 months the organisation has also undergone major changes as a result of its Blueprint for Change strategy which has resulted in services being re-organised and new ways of working introduced which the department hopes will bring social workers closer to communities where there is a need for their help.

The council’s place and resources scrutiny committee have asked for a further explanation of the figures.

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• sickness rates
• dorset childrens services