The proportion of staff at Swindon Council's Children's Services department hired in from agencies has more than doubled in the last year.

In September 2017, 25 per cent of the department's staff were called in from agencies. At the end of July 2018 that had risen to 80 people, 58 per cent of the department's workforce.

Bosses at Euclid Street say it's been necessary to get in more staff to lower the workloads for social workers.

Figures were provided in a written answer to Labour Councillor Jim Robbins' question made at the Scrutiny Committee meeting in September.

As well as asking for details on numbers of employees, he asked: "What progress has been made against the strategy adopted by the Cabinet in July to reduce the numbers of agency social workers?"

The cabinet member for Children and School Attainment, Councillor Mary Martin wrote back: "Some of the reasons for the increase in the last 12 months are for covering established vacancies as well as providing additional temporary capacity to the social work teams and ensure manageable caseloads."

She added that a senior management post for early help to families has been filled, and three more senior management posts should be filled by December.

Agency staff have been offered incentives to reduce turnover, including increased hourly pay, and travel and accommodation allowances. These offers will be reviewed at the end of the month.

The next Scrutiny Committee meeting is at 6pm on Monday October 22.