MORE social workers need to be hired at Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) after an increase in cases of domestic abuse and parental substance misuse.

There are now significant numbers of referrals to the children's services as a result of these serious issues. In the past six months there have been 104 referrals for substance abuse and 97 referrals for domestic violence.

Proposals have been made to create 10 social worker posts, five permanent and five temporary. The permanent posts will cost MCC £183,000 a year with the temporary posts amounting to £322,000 which will be funded from council reserves for 18 months.

A request has also been made to MCC's cabinet to increase the base budget for the children's service by £300,000 to meet the growing demand.

Councillor Debby Blakebrough, who is campaigning to raise awareness of domestic abuse, said: "It is good news that more cases are being reported.

"In Monmouthshire the referrals are typically low because we live in a rural county people are not aware of it, no one's wise to it.

"It is massively important to raise awareness of domestic abuse. People need to feel it's OK to talk about it, it's OK to tell someone and to raise alarm bells, and those who inflict it need to know it's not OK and stop."

Tracy Jelfs, head of children's services, said: "Monmouthshire's Children's Services just like local authorities elsewhere are experiencing increasing demand as a consequence of issues relating to domestic abuse, contributed to by both alcohol and substance misuse. As a council that understands the value of proactive intervention, we are increasing our staffing levels together with training to ensure that effective services are in place for families. We as an authority realise that we cannot eliminate such issues completely, but believe that working closely with families may help them to diffuse such tensions and enable them to work through alternatives that ensure their children have acceptable outcomes."

Cabinet will meet today (6th May) to discuss the plans.