TWO-THIRDS of children’s social workers have come across young people living in homes with unhealthy levels of mould, researchers revealed today.

According to a study by the Social Workers Union, 71 per cent of adult, child and mental health social workers found that people had stopped turning on their heating to save money over the winter.

As a result, more than half said that the people they supported were living in cold, damp homes.

Many were in Scotland, where 69 per cent of social workers reported people living in such conditions. 

A quarter said that the people they worked with who have a disability or health condition could not afford to run medical equipment and 15 per cent reported seeing disabled people unable to charge their mobility devices due to the high cost of energy.

Social Workers Union general secretary John McGowan said: “While politicians try to kid themselves that the cost-of-living crisis is over, the reports from our members show just how dangerous this winter has been.

“All too often, social workers are reporting seeing people living in substandard and dangerous housing. 

“Children living in cold, damp, mouldy homes is a national scandal and we need to see drastic action being taken to fix Britain’s broken energy system.”

Warm This Winter campaign spokeswoman Fiona Waters said: “As a rich country, at the very least we should be giving our people warm, dry, healthy homes to live in. 

“That’s why we need long-term solutions, such as expanding home-grown renewable energy and a mass programme of insulation to bring down bills once and for all so these appalling living conditions are banished to the past where they belong.”