Social work given £600,000 boost

Social services for families in rural Derbyshire have been given a £600,000 boost as part of a council project.

The county council is running a three-year pilot scheme which will see a new team of social workers created to cover the Derbyshire Dales.

The team will concentrate on areas with little or no public transport.

The council says it will allow social workers to spend more time with families who currently have to travel to offices at Swadlincote and Buxton.

Cllr Anne Western, the council's cabinet member for children's services said: "This pilot will make it easier for people in more remote, rural locations to have easy access to social care services.

"The team will concentrate on things such as early years parenting but will also be flexible enough to meet any local needs that are identified."

The scheme is being run with the Children's Workforce Development Council.