A WORRYING number of Barnsley children have been abused by the people in authority who are supposed to be looking after them.
A social services report reveals that 13 people have abused children they were in contact with through the course of their job. Those involved work in areas such as social work, teaching, youth work and healthcare.
Abuse is classed as sexual, physical, emotional or neglect, but the council cannot break it down into individual categories at this stage.
Between April 2005 and March 2006 allegations of abuse were made against 39 members of staff, two volunteers and seven foster carers.
According to the report, the accusations were substantiated in 13 cases and a further 21 complaints are still the subject of investigation, some dating back to April 2005.
The number of youngsters who have suffered was not disclosed, but a council spokesman said in general each case related to one or two children.
Director of social services Sandie Keene says information about which sector each person is employed and the details about what action has been taken against those responsible is unavailable.
Ms Keene said: “Across all agencies, Barnsley takes its responsibility to look after and safeguard children and young people seriously. We estimate that more than 14,000 people work with children and young people in some way in Barnsley through employment in the private and public sector and/or volunteering.
She added that a committee, the Barnsley Safeguarding Board, which is made up of members such as social services and the Primary Care Trust, deals with investigation of abuse against children.
