A Runcorn MP has raised concerns about support for vulnerable children after it was revealed Halton Council loses two social workers for every one it recruits.

Weaver Vale Labour MP Mike Amesbury - whose constituency covers parts of East Runcorn - told Parliament the children’s social care system was in 'crisis' across the country due to what he said was 'underfunding and an unstable workforce'.

Mr Amesbury said both local authorities in his constituency - Halton and Cheshire West and Chester - had ‘brilliant’ social workers. But told MPs the scale of deprivation within parts of Halton, in particular, meant ‘very high and complex caseloads’, were impacting on the ability to recruit and retain staff.

He said: “Social care has a deep and profound impact on the lives of vulnerable children, but a system that cannot maintain a stable, supported workforce will ultimately fail. That is what we have seen—a crisis up and down the country.

“It has got to the point where for every new social worker coming to work in Halton, there are two leaving. For every new one, two leave—that is a fact. It is completely and utterly unsustainable.”

The MP said there was a 'lack of public understanding and appreciation of social work', ‘unbearably high’ workloads, low wages and a system that does not provide support, especially for early-career social workers.

Mr Amesbury asked the Minister what the Government was doing to address such challenges. This included the ‘overuse’ of agency social workers who represented ‘a less stable presence’ in the lives of children and families being supported.

Agency fees added ‘expensive’ costs for councils and these companies were ‘profiteering from the most vulnerable children’.

Halton Council has been forced to turn to temp staff to fill gaps in its social worker ranks. The World reported recently how Halton Council's Children Young People and Families Policy and Performance Board member Cllr John Abbott - a trained social worker by profession since the 90s - had called the fact more than half of some social care teams at the authority were made up of temp agency staff 'massively concerning'.

Mr Amesbury added: “Children’s social care has been woefully underfunded, with council finances hollowed out by 50 per cent over the past 12 years - a political choice, which the new Prime Minister, when anointed on September 5, will have to focus on urgently.

“A well-rewarded and valued workforce would focus on our most in-need children and ensure they live in a safe, loving, compassionate and caring environment, with opportunities in the future of their lives.”