A total of 28 jobs could be cut from Barnet Borough Council’s children and families service as part of a drive to save £2.3million in staff costs.

Changes will be brought in to management across the service, although there are no plans for reductions in the numbers of front line social workers.

The early intervention service will bring together non-qualified social care staff, youth, safer families and intensive family focus staff into a new youth and family support service.

Some staff will also be transferred to education and skills.

The proposed restructure will be brought in next April.

Coppetts ward councillor Barry Rawlings questioned the proposals.

Cllr Rawlings said: “I worry if you start losing your experienced people, it can set a dangerous precedent. I think it’s an extremely worrying and potentially dangerous move because they are moving away from early years’ prevention.

“The service is for families who have fallen off a cliff. The early years’ prevention is what builds a fence to prevent them from falling off the cliff in the first place.

“My personal feelings are that it hasn’t been properly modelled. Most local authorities are investing more into troubled families. Barnet is swimming against the tide. Rather than working at the right time, you are turning your back on them and becoming a crisis service.

“All of this is where you need that work, to try and provide the right support at the right time. If you take those crutches away, people will fall over. It’s short sighted, not properly modelled and dangerous. I think they have taken the wrong road.”

A staff consultation ended two weeks ago on the proposals.

A paper will go to the general functions committee next Tuesday, recommending members to approve the restructure, with recruitment due to begin the day after.

The Times Series is awaiting comment from Barnet Borough Council.