DISTRAUGHT’ staff at children’s centres operated by Worcestershire County Council have broken their silence and have written a damming letter on the proposed cuts to children’s centres.
The letter was given to the Worcestershire Mums Network anonymously and has now been published alongside a petition to stop the plans which will be considered at County Hall in Worcester on October 21.
It states that staff have ‘bit their tongues’ for months and are now fearful for what the cuts will mean for residents who do not fall into the ‘targeted family’ category.
Under the proposals, families who need help ‘will receive it’ but the whistleblower questions where other families in trouble will go and fears the answer is ‘to unhelpful online support’.
“For months and months we’ve bit our tongues, writhing silently in sheer frustration at the ignorance of a select few of the County’s decision-makers who seemingly have no idea what an enormous impact their decisions are going to have to the detriment of our children in Worcestershire,” says the letter.
“What we can only see is doomed to fail our children’s service.”
Leases of the children’s centre buildings will be handed over to schools and child care providers as council funding is set to be cut from £6.4 million a year to just £3 million.
The writer condemned council cabinet member with responsibility for children and families, Coun Marc Bayliss, and questioned his knowledge of what the staff face day in, day out and what the real issues are ‘on the ground’.
Coun Pattie Hill (Lab, Arrow Valley East) said: “Staff in children’s centres often refer victims to Women’s Aid and the trained staff identify the early signs of domestic abuse.
“If, as suggested by Worcestershire County Council, volunteers, however caring and enthusiastic, replace such staff they may not recognise the signs.
“Coun Bayliss must listen to those who know the issues, and remember the over-riding principle of The Children Act 1989. ‘The welfare of the child is paramount’.”
In response, Coun Bayliss, said: “We have said we will not be closing any of our children’s centres and we have kept to that promise. The schools and childcare providers taking on these buildings have got some very encouraging plans for how they will continue working with partners to support children and families.”
