Social workers in Bath and North East Somerset are raising urgent concerns over council plans to restructure the children’s social care department, which could lead to significant redundancies and undermine essential support services for vulnerable families.
The proposed restructure anticipates five direct redundancies, but many more social workers face role eliminations and team dissolutions, forcing them to compete for a reduced number of new positions. This upheaval comes at a time when the government’s “families first” reforms are urging councils to improve and reshape children’s social work. Yet, social workers argue these changes threaten the very capacity the reforms seek to strengthen.
On March 9, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s children, adults, health, and wellbeing scrutiny panel heard impassioned pleas as council staff, represented by Unison, protested outside the Guildhall. Their chants—“No job losses!” and “Council bosses, listen up!”—echoed through the council chamber, underscoring the deep unease about the cuts.
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While council leaders emphasize that the restructuring aims to enhance services for children and families and assure that no final decisions have been made, front-line workers warn this optimism is misleading. Charlotte Spires, who supports parents involved in court processes, shared her distress: her role is being cut, raising fears over who will now provide thorough family assessments and seek kinship options to keep children safely with relatives.
Peter Abbott, a kinship support worker, expressed frustration that despite national focus on kinship care, his team will lose nearly half of its management and 40% of senior practitioners. “We’ve been stretched for years, trying to deliver vital support,” he said. “Instead of expansion aligned with government reforms, we face debilitating cuts.”
Fostering team social worker Kate Allport highlighted the contradiction between government calls for 10,000 new foster carers nationwide and local cuts that imperil fostering support. “We’re already at capacity,” she said. “Reducing our team will devastate our ability to care for children placed in foster homes.”
The Families Together team, launched just last April to help children stay with or return to their families, faces losing key members. Team members Liz O’Gorman and Flo Bunn described the changes as “heartbreaking,” stressing how their collaborative approach has built trust with families in need.
One of the most alarming proposed cuts is the elimination of the award-winning Connecting Families team—an intensive early help service working closely with families facing complex challenges to prevent their entry into the social care system. Team members and supporters described the decision as devastating and shortsighted.
Marie Porter, a Connecting Families worker, noted, “We support these families several times a week—no other service does that. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This team truly changes lives.”
Tracey Bidgood, the team’s manager for 33 years, called the disbanding of the team “devastating” and emphasized, “This isn’t just a job to us; it’s a life choice.”
Retired social worker and volunteer Mark Baldwin addressed the scrutiny panel, condemning the council’s decision to dismantle a nationally recognized service proven to transform lives, a move he said is not mandated by government reforms.
Council cabinet member Paul May acknowledged the team’s value, explaining the planned restructure would integrate Connecting Families workers into multidisciplinary family teams to provide more consistent support for families, rather than dissolving their expertise.
Jean Kelly, director of children’s services and education, explained the government’s “families first” policy requires councils to create multi-disciplinary teams that offer continuity for families—from early help to child protection stages. The restructuring aims to align teams with this approach.
Despite council assurances, social workers remain deeply concerned. Councillor Joanna Wright called for an extension to the redundancy consultation, emphasizing the fear and dedication expressed by protesting professionals.
The scrutiny meeting was frequently disrupted by protesters echoing their fears for children’s welfare as leaders defended the proposals. The council reiterated that the restructure is still in consultation and stressed ongoing dialogue with staff.
A council spokesperson said: “We are consulting on draft proposals to improve how we work with children and families. We value our staff and the vital work they do. No final decisions have been made, and we are committed to listening to feedback during this process.”