A YORK council worker is at the centre of a high-level authority investigation, the Evening Press can reveal.

The probe into a member of staff at the Heworth Family Centre is the latest crisis to hit City of York Council's Community Services Department.

The authority revealed today that two further members of staff from the department had been sacked in the past 12 months. The three cases are not linked.

Council chiefs today confirmed there was an "ongoing investigation into allegations regarding the conduct of a member of staff" at the centre, with the authority saying it investigates thoroughly where support and care falls "below the high standard we expect". The worker has not been named by the council.

The revelations come only days after the Evening Press revealed how top council boss David Finnegan had been suspended in a high level disciplinary inquiry and, in a separate incident, £15,000 had "gone missing" at the authority's finance centre in Library Square.

Those incidents are both totally unrelated - the disappearance of £15,000 is NOT linked to Mr Finnegan's suspension.

The Heworth Family Centre forms part of the council's Community Services Department. It offers advice and guidance on parenting, childcare and child development to families with youngsters under 11. Officers work with people on parenting and give advice and support. They also give people the chance to join respite and support groups.

Workers, who did not wish to be named, told the Evening Press that three separate cases within Community Services reflected "terrible bad practice" in the department. They said: "Workers have left in their droves and there has been hardly any support for staff caught up in the problems, which have existed for a long time now.

"Although senior management have been alerted in the past about things going on, little has been done to try and sort the problems out before it inevitably came to a head."

Speaking about the latest investigation, a council spokeswoman said the matter was being dealt with internally.

She said: "Whenever the levels of support and care provided fall below the high standard we expect, the council investigates thoroughly and takes strong action where appropriate.

"There is an ongoing investigation into allegations regarding the conduct of a member of staff at Heworth Family Centre and interim and effective arrangements have been put in place to support staff and customers at the site.

"During the past 12 months, previous unrelated investigations have led to the dismissal of two members of community services staff.

"The wellbeing of customers and staff is our main priority and we will continue to provide support and assistance wherever possible."

Updated: 10:07 Monday, August 15, 2005