A NATIONAL social workers' organisation claims Derby City Council is considering moving a unit that helps sexually abused children, putting youngsters "at risk".
Chair of the British Association of Social Workers, Fran Fuller, says the authority is looking at closing the city centre site and temporarily moving the service to Chaddesden to save £100,000.
But she says that, unlike the old site, the new one would not just cater for the victims of abuse.
Mrs Fuller said the service, which helps more than 100 children a year, could be moved to a site which is also home to adoption, fostering and looked-after children services.
She said this would lack the "security" and "confidentiality" of the city centre site – which she added was recently renovated.
Mrs Fuller said the council proposal has put two jobs at risk out of the five currently based at the city centre site.
She said: "The council may talk efficiencies but there are human beings behind those numbers on a spreadsheet.
"For victims of sexual abuse, the horrific damage done to them does not heal the moment a judge finds an abuser guilty.
"These crimes cause lifelong damage to innocent children and their families, who need help to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives.
"Children in Derby who have been sexually abused need a safe and discreet place they can go to where they can unburden their trauma and receive help."
She added that the move would put youngsters "at risk" as the current site dealt with "very damaged children that needed to feel safe and secure to act out some of the behaviours they present with given the experiences they have had".
She added that any temporary move to another site could be bad news as youngsters currently "felt the benefit of consistency".
A city council spokesman said: "We are consulting with affected staff at the unit on the proposal to make savings of £100k from the budget.
"Work is currently underway to review the services' access to appropriate meeting space for direct work with children. This will at all times ensure the safety and confidentiality of those using the service to ensure continuity of service as much as possible."
Tory councillor Evonne Williams, shadow cabinet member for children and young people, said the service was "one she would not personally look at" when making savings after what happened with Operation Retriever – a major Derbyshire police investigation which involved at least 27 young victims – and Operation Kern, which targeted those seeking the services of children for sex.
She said: "Currently, a review is looking at what the service for abused children needs in terms of what the service users themselves need."
The council says it needs to save £81 million over the next three financial years in the face of cuts to its Government grant, inflation and other pressures.
