Council to spend pounds 1.7m on more social workers for children.

LIVERPOOL is recruiting more social workers to ease the caseloads of staff who look after the city's 870 children receiving care.

It is the latest in a line of improvements to the sector following recommendations made after the death of Baby P. The city council is spending an extra pounds 1.7m a year to create 31 jobs protecting the city's most at-risk youngsters.

It means an increase of 20% in the number of social workers looking after the most vulnerable children.

Twenty-four new social workers and deputy team leaders will start work with families and children along with seven team leaders and managers to supervise cases.

The aim is to reduce the caseloads of staff, giving front line workers more time to provide support to the most challenging families.

Social workers who work with children on the child protection register and looked-after children will also be paid an extra pounds 1,700 per year.

Cllr Ron Gould, executive member for health, care and safeguarding, said: "Social workers are special people who perform a very difficult job protecting the most vulnerable, and we recognise we need more of them. We are determined to provide the best possible care for children." More than 120 applicants have responded to adverts for the new posts.