CHANGES to Dorset children’s social services are beginning to have a positive effect for the county’s young people – Dorset councillors have been told.

The service has undergone a ‘blueprint for change’ exercise which re-organised the way some staff work with the aim of having social workers closer to the areas where they are needed most.

Dorchester councillor Molly Rennie has described the latest feedback on the service as “a smiley report,” and said it was a pleasure to read.

Portfolio holder for children’s services and education Cllr Andrew Parry said what has been an extraordinary year could not be ignored but said a lot of things which were talked about in theory previously had now happened, despite the pandemic.

He said that this included reducing social workers case-loads and good quality intervention work with better support for families.

“The green shoots of that are really starting to show and we should be really proud of that and the direction of travel,” he said.

Cllr Parry said he was delighted that the turn-over of staff had reduced and Dorset was moving to become what he described as ‘an employer of choice.’

Director of the service Theresa Leavy said despite the successes there remained problems with operating, financially, on a year by year basis, but said she hoped there would be changes in the future to allow better long-term planning.

The council’s people and health scrutiny committee also heard of better working relationships with partner organisations, including the police and schools, giving an overall picture of the children and young people the organisation is working with.

But there were warning that new pressures might emerge after a year of Covid restrictions.

Said Theresa Leavy: “I’m less worried about young children who have usually adapted well, but more worried about young people and some parents who have really struggled and have been under pressure – but our staff are geared up and ready to deal with that.”