Social workers frightened after disorder - union

Unison said "lessons need to be learned, and quickly" after events in Harehills

Social workers felt "frightened" and "vulnerable" with a lack of support following disorder in Leeds last month, a union has said.

Disturbances broke out in Harehills on 18 July as police responded to reports of social workers experiencing hostility while dealing with a child protection issue.

Unison said staff faced "incredibly challenging jobs" in situations that were "often intimidating, threatening and potentially violent".

Leeds City Council said it would work with social workers "to identify learning and agreed actions arising from recent events".

Staff had been injured in incidents where they were "going into people's houses when they're at their most vulnerable", said Karen Loughlin, Unison's Yorkshire and Humberside regional secretary.

"They know they've got really important work to do but what they're saying is, 'I've got to be safe as well'."

Videos widely shared on social media showed people reacting angrily to the children being taken from a house by officers in July.

That night, a bus was set on fire and a police car was overturned during disorder in the streets.

Social workers often had to deal with gangs of people gathering around their vehicles or going into the property they were visiting in an attempt to intimidate, Unison said.

Low staffing levels meant workers were often on their own, the union added.

A large police operation took place during the disorder

The council had "failed to learn any lessons" with a new agency staff member being sent to make contact with the same family on her own, according to Unison.

“The council has at least said it is going to review the incident," Ms Loughlin said.

“But lessons need to be learned, and quickly. Leeds must look beyond this incident, and enhance the support it provides to social workers.”

The council said it took the health and safety of staff "extremely seriously".

A spokesperson said: “Managers and senior leaders have already met with individual social workers and visited area social work teams to listen and talk to them and ensure they have all the support that is necessary."

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