SWINDON is suffering from a national shortage of social workers.

Uncompetitive pay combined with increasing house prices has meant that Swindon Social Services is crying out for suitably qualified staff.

According to the town's head of children and families services, Eleni Ioannides, the shortage of child care social workers is approaching 15 per cent, echoing the national picture.

There are between 160 and 170 social workers in Swindon, some of them part-time. Each can be juggling as many as 15 cases simultaneously.

The social workers in Swindon are managing to cope with the heavy workload.

But the recent inquiry into the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie, who is said to have been failed by social workers, has highlighted the risks they run.

Following the case, Ms Ioannides wrote to every social worker, praising them for their high standards and assuring them that if they follow procedures they will be backed by their bosses and councillors.