SOCIAL workers are struggling to deliver the services that children and families need due to understaffing, underfunding and a lack of resources, a survey by Unison Scotland has found. 

Almost three-quarters of social workers told the researchers that their teams did not have enough staff, while nine in 10 said that resources determine placement decisions when a child is taken into care.

An overwhelming majority said that the provision of intensive family support in their area was insufficient to meet the level of need.