The number of children in the care of Swindon Council who have had more than one social worker in a year is dropping.

But it is still higher than the national average, and at least one Labour councillor, who has personal experience of the care system thinks more can be done.

Figures released by the council’s children’s department show that 22 looked after children have experienced three different placements between April and September last year.

The report says: “If performance continue at this rate 14 per cent will have experienced three or more placements during 2018-19.”

The national average for such a figure is 10 per cent.

In September, 46.5 children who have been looked after for 2.5 years or more have been with the same family or placement for at least two years. That’s significantly below the national figure of 68 per cent.

During 2018-17 a quarter of looked after children had the same social worker looking after them for the whole year compared to 33 per cent nationally.

The report to the council’s scrutiny committee says the national figure is also dropping: “Total worker stability is decreasing at a national level. Swindon is in line with the national average in terms of children experiencing one change. For those experiencing four worker changes or more (45 in 2016-17) Swindon is higher than average. This reflects the recruitment and retention challenges Swindon has been experiencing.”

Councillor Jim Robbins was the member who asked for the information, and as someone who has been a foster carer has experienced the disruption of social worker changes.

He said: “Things are moving in the right direction, but I’m still concerned about the impact on the young people experiencing this instability while we’re getting there.

“The social workers all work hard, and I’m not criticising them at all but the system we have isn’t helping.”

Coun Robbins said he and his wife had experienced multiple social workers the last time they were fostering.

He added: “It was a year ago and we were looking after a 16 year old who wanted to move into her own place. We had a plan in place, but in that year we had five social workers, so every meeting, a lot of time was spent getting everyone up to speed again, and not discussing what’s best for the child. What could have taken two months took about nine.”

The council’s scrutiny committee will discuss the figures at its meeting at 6pm on Monday January 14.