AGENCY staff cost Wiltshire Council an extra £240,000 due to a shortage in social workers between April and September.

Over the six-month period, £1.79m was paid to 109 agency workers across the council, a rise of £240,000 compared with the previous period.

The unitary authority currently has a total of 20 vacant social worker positions and agency workers are being used to plug the gaps.

The council said that was one reason for the increase in staff costs and recruiting was a problem.

Amanda George, head of human resources and organisational development, said: “There is a small pool of social workers and everyone wants them too.

“We face direct competition from other local authorities. Social worker recruitment is a problem and it is very difficult.

“We currently have 20 agency staff filling full time social worker positions and we are trying to fill these roles.”