Councillors who act up as social workers

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Needs assessments, housing claims, benefit problems, children with behavioural issues… these are the staple diet of a social worker. But they are also familiar territory to ward councillors, the 21,000-strong army of local government activists.
“Many people who come to me with their problems regard me as a kind of halfway house,” says Sarah Richardson, a Conservative councillor in Westminster “They may feel intimidated by the prospect of approaching social services and going through all the checks and formalities. I’m still part of the council but I’m also right there in their community and they feel they can talk to me.”
Richardson is a cabinet member for children’s services and a councillor in the Churchill ward of Westminster, where 60% of the people are from ethnic minorities. Her ward covers three major housing estates, which sit alongside row upon row of expensive, privately-owned Georgian town houses. She holds bi-monthly surgeries that give residents the opportunity to meet their councillor and discuss their concerns.
“Some people who come to see us already have social workers or are known to the council in some way,” says Richardson. “But there are lots of others who are on the cusp, who perhaps should be receiving more services but are not aware of their rights.
“They see us as their first port of call. This is helped by the fact that I live in the community and I’ve been a councillor for five years. We often know the same people and they feel more comfortable telling me things than a more impersonal department.”
Rob Banks, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Oval ward in Lambeth, sees the full gamut of human experience at his weekly surgeries. He recently spoke to a man who was on the run from his wife’s family and was sleeping rough.
Ensuring fair treatment
“Because I know how the council works and whom to speak to, I was able to pick up the phone and arrange shelter for him,” Banks says. “I certainly can’t solve every problem. But I can try to ensure people are fairly and adequately treated by the council.”
Other cases Banks has dealt with involve housing issues, residents being kept awake by loud music, and an older resident being stung by a large Supporting People bill from the council.
“Most people who come to see me have already been down the council service route and have not been satisfied with the response and they’re not sure where to turn next,” he says. “As an opposition member, I don’t have a huge amount of power. But I can get the council to look again at a decision they’ve made or get them to review a case.”
So how does a hard-working councillor, often juggling a full-time job in addition to their civic duties, prioritise their work when confronted with aggrieved residents? And do their actions help or hinder local social workers, who may already be struggling with large caseloads and insufficient resources?

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