Children are being put at risk by a severe lack of social workers with more than one in 10 posts across England lying vacant, figures released today show.

Vacancy rates for children’s social workers are so high in some areas that almost half of posts in Waltham Forest, north-east London, and two-thirds in south-west London borough Sutton are unaccounted for.

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) warned that unfilled posts and high caseloads are putting children at risk.

BASW professional officer Nushra Mansuri said: “Risk is risk — we are talking about children who largely are at risk — and the system can make that riskier if people haven’t got enough capacity to do that work rigorously and thoroughly.”

She described how hard it was for social workers to form a “meaningful relationship” with a child or family because

they have too many cases, making their situation more vulnerable.

The College of Social Work, the centre of excellence for the profession, said many employees have found the role untenable in the wake of “social-work bashing” following a number of high-profile child abuse scandals.

Chief executive Annie Hudson said social workers can be put off from working in the areas that need the most help.

“I know of at least two authorities where they maybe had about 10 per cent agency staff and then they have an Ofsted (report) which puts them into the equivalent of special measures and their use of agency staff goes rocketing because it can be a very demoralising environment in which to work,” she said.

“People exit and maybe go to places that are going to be less difficult.”

Ninety-eight English councils responded to Freedom of Information requests which asked how many social workers in children’s services they employed and how many vacancies were unfilled, according to the latest statistics.

A Department for Education spokesman added: “We have recently announced a new career pathway to keep our dedicated professionals working in frontline practice.”