Union says social worker staffing at 'crisis' levels in B.C.
Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing
The union representing social workers is raising the alarm about staffing levels in B.C.
“Social workers feel the staffing shortage right now is a crisis and it’s a crisis that is impacting their work,” said Paul Finch, president of the BC General Employees' Union.
A CTV News investigation this week identified a disturbing case involving three children that relatives said were living in awful circumstances. They said repeated calls to social workers and police in Fort St. John and B.C.’s Interior were ignored until the biological mom finally called the Ministry of Children and Family Development herself.
“They were utterly, 100 per cent neglected and locked in their rooms. The children, when found, were covered in feces, urine. They were literally feral,” said their foster mom, who is also a relative. CTV News can not legally identify her.
Finch would not comment on the specific case, but said the caseloads social workers are facing have become too much.
“Imagine carrying a triple caseload and if all of a sudden you have two or three crises inside that caseload, you’re into constant crisis management,” he said.
“We’re seeing a crisis in retention that is primarily resulting from burnout."
Grace Lore, the minister of children and family development, said earlier this week:
"We have, over the last little while, increased staff throughout our ministry, again layering accountability and oversight because we must get it right.”
However, the union said staffing is not keeping up with a growing population.
The BCGEU said that in 2020, there was one frontline staff member to 1,581 people. Four years later, it’s one to every 1,883.
Relatives of the siblings – who say the children were found in a filthy house and had been severely neglected – said there is no excuse for why pleas to check on the kids were repeatedly ignored.
“These children could have been saved so long ago, even if the children weren’t removed, the family could have received help,” the foster mom said.
RCMP were also asked about the case, but would not comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6877535.1715120774!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Senior charged in shooting of teen on rural property north of Edmonton
A Sturgeon County man has been charged after he allegedly shot a teen over the weekend.
Altercation between 'numerous' golfers on B.C. course broken up by RCMP
Authorities broke up an altercation involving "numerous" golfers at a course in B.C.'s Lower Mainland over the weekend – an incident that was apparently prompted by serious breaches in etiquette.
'He was bigger than life': Former broadcaster Scott Boyd dies at 68
Former Breakfast Television co-host and radio broadcaster Scott Boyd has died at the age of 68.
Judge grants U of T injunction to clear pro-Palestinian encampment from downtown Toronto campus
An Ontario judge has granted the University of Toronto an injunction allowing it to clear out a pro-Palestinian encampment from its downtown Toronto campus
RFK Jr. says he has 'skeletons in my closet' after sexual assault allegation
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Tuesday he has 'so many skeletons in my closet,' when asked about an allegation in a Vanity Fair article that he sexually assaulted a former family babysitter.
Eastern Ontario doctor accused of killing four patients acquitted of murder charges, negligence
An eastern Ontario doctor facing four charges of first-degree murder and negligence causing death in connection with the deaths of four seniors at a Hawkesbury hospital was acquitted on all charges at the Ottawa courthouse on Tuesday.
Ontario police seize over $1M in cocaine, $300K in cash in major drug bust
Police in Cornwall, Ont. have seized approximately $1.3 million worth of cocaine and $300,000 in cash as part of a major drugs investigation.
Are fewer Canadians having children? We want to hear from you
Are you choosing not to have children? CTVNews.ca wants to hear from you.
NHL free agency shows teams in U.S. states with no income tax have an advantage
It's become difficult to deny the impact of favourable tax situations for teams around the NHL.