A TEAM is set to be drafted in for six months to help put right Bury Council’s failing children’s services.

The Bury Times reported in December how the borough’s children’s services department had been rated as ‘inadequate’.

But before this concerns had already been voiced over the state of the section, with the Local Government Association having been invited to conduct a ‘peer challenge’ for the authority.

An urgent recommendation from that process has been the need to review all ‘child in need’ cases, and those with youngsters being assisted by early help teams, to check on risks or whether any cases can be closed.

Proposals to appoint a new eight-strong managed service, by an external agency, Innovate, including six social workers and one support practitioner, have now been approved by Cllr Tamoor Tariq, the council’s children’s services cabinet member, in consultation with officers.

Council chiefs hope the decision will allow for reduced caseloads for social workers and reduce the impact of changes in social workers on children.

The aim would be for each social worker to have 20 or below cases, with an overall capacity of 140.

Isobel Booler, acting executive director of children and young people for Bury Council, said: “The team would follow a 13-week programme ensuring there are three Child in Need reviews during the period to prevent drift and delay.

“All children would be seen every two weeks to ensure targeted intervention and progress.”