A FORMER Worcestershire social services worker has blamed the department for its predicted £4.6m overspend, saying not enough money is spent keeping children out of care.

Diane Jackson worked as an independent social worker in the former Hereford-Worcester social services between January 1992 and March 1998.

As manager of a guardian ad litem service she provided reports to courts in care cases and investigated complaints.

Ms Jackson, who moved back to her home city of Worcester following her mother's death, had 18 years' experience in London's social services - 12 years as a manager.

Worcestershire's social services was recently exposed as heading for the £4.6m overspend unless urgent cuts amounting to £600,000 a month are made.

Much of the problem is blamed on Worcestershire spending huge sums on childcare because of an above average number of youngsters in its "looked-after" system.

Ms Jackson says that Hereford-Worcester social services should have adopted a preventative not protective policy, concentrating on funding respite care, family centres, counselling, day care and advice on debts and benefits instead of removing children from their homes.

"People resent money being spent on these families," she says. "Politicians don't like spending money on preventative support because it's a long-term thing. But compared to expensive childcare it's a drop in the ocean.

"I've seen some miraculous things with young mums doing access courses and going on to teach.

"In Hackney, I could count on two hands the number of children we took into care over five years, because we did some wonderful preventative work.

"In Worcestershire, they were taking children into care all the time."

Ms Jackson says a lack of support from managers meant that social workers were not prepared to take risks.

"After an incredibly long period of very stable management social services went through a series of reorganisations due to legislative changes and local government reorganisation," she says. "These were probably no one's fault, but they meant that people were working in constantly changing structures with the inevitable changes of managers."

CALLS for an inquiry into how Worcestershire's social services department is facing a £4.6m deficit half way into the financial year have been dismissed as "unnecessary".

Wyre Forest district councillors have accused the county council of "mismanagement" and "placing vulnerable residents at serious risk".

A resolution passed by the district council urged external auditors to carry out an immediate investigation into "the reasons behind and responsibility for this unacceptable and disgraceful situation".

"This motion does not call for resignations or sackings but those responsible - councillors and officers - must be identified," said Councillor Fran Oborski.

But a spokesman for the county council said there was no need for an investigation as action had already been taken by the chief executive, Rob Sykes, and the director of social services, Peter Gilbert.

"We have appraised our external auditors but Rob Sykes has already acted to put the brakes on," he said.

"We now have six months to ensure the department stays within its £80.9m budget."