Families staff hit by stress epidemic

Published on Monday 8 September 2008 10:14

MORE than 500 working days are being lost in just one month in the council's troubled children and families department because its employees are suffering from stress and depression.

Among those taking time off are frontline staff, including teachers, residential care workers and social workers.

In four months, almost 21,500 working days were lost in total – with more than half of these due to short-term sickness.

The children and families department, the biggest in the council with 9488 employees, is now working to tackle the "high" levels of short-term absence.

A new report shows that in June, out of the 500 working days lost to depression and stress, more than 190 were due to people being absent short-term. The remaining days were down to employees on long-term sickness.

Jim Inch, director of corporate services, said: "The level of sickness absence from short-term absence is high relative to the total working days lost, and is a key area that the department will now focus on.

"The reasons for absence will continue to be monitored and further work is being undertaken, specifically in relation to roles such as teachers, residential care workers and social workers."

The new sickness figures come at a time when the troubled social work department is undergoing a "radical review" to address major problems, with changes including losing 12 managerial positions.