Aberdeen to hire social work expertise
- Published: 07 July 2008 11:54
- Author: Simon Ellery
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- Last Updated: 08 July 2008 09:32
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Aberdeen City Council is hiring a troubleshooter to overhaul its social services.
The troubled council has appointed former Kirklees MBC social services director Philip Cotterill as part of its efforts to make savings of around £27m.
Mr Cotterill joins on a six-month part-time contract worth up to £100,000. The contract includes flights and accommodation.
A spokesman said: "Mr Cotterill is going to be here as a social work manager on a consultancy contract."
Overhaulling the council
The move meets one of several recommendations set out by agencies involved in the council's overhaul including the Social Work Inspection Agency and the Accounts Commission. Aberdeen's recently formed 13-strong urgent business committee confirmed the move last Friday.
Other recommendations still to be met include hiring a new chief executive with the incumbent Douglas Paterson leaving on 13 August and implementing an employee improvement plan.
Council leader Kate Dean is to go back to the Scottish government and the agencies concerned for help to pay for the external expertise. She said: "We are doing our best to stabilise our budgets and cope with the fact that the agencies have suggested we take on extra staff. "
She praised Mr Cotterhil's experience of change management and his hands on social work as key but emphasised that the extra cost "does put an additional pressure on the budget".
