CHILDREN’S SERVICES SLAMMED

Care of at risk kids ‘not always delivered by qualified, suitable people’ and management level is ‘vulnerable’ too

COUNCIL chiefs have been slated by inspectors over how the authority looks after vulnerable children.

A report published on Tuesday by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), lifted the lid on failings at Anglesey Council.

Inspectors found services “were not always delivered by a skilled, competent, suitably qualified and experienced workforce,” with a “particular vulnerability” at team manager level.

Although acknowledging that “prompt and proportionate action” was taken in cases of potential significant harm to children on Anglesey, it was not always followed-up adequately.

Partially blaming the failure on a lack of capacity and experience at operational manager or senior practicioner level, inspectors said they looked closely at the quality of outcomes for children in need of help, care, support and/or protection.

Inspectors also found “insuf- ficient attention to improving practice,” and the quality and timeliness of child protection enquiries to be “inconsistent,” having witnessed a sharp rise in the number of referrals since 2012. Other concerns included the council’s information, advice and assistance services that were found to be “insufficiently developed” with “too many” cases not progressing to referral when they should have.

However, inspectors did acknowledge that staff were “clearly committed” to improving the lives of the children and families they worked with.

This isn’t the first time Anglesey’s children’s service has come under fire. A 2011 CSSIW report noted a failure to improve, dating back “many years,” with the assessment and care management of children on Anglesey to be “poor”.

Council leaders have vowed to make significant improvements by the time inspectors return in a year’s time.

Dr Caroline Turner, assistant chief executive and director of social services, said: “Each and every staff member in our children’s services is committed to improving the lives of the children and families they worked with.

“Clearly, however, this report raises significant concerns about the service we currently provide children, young people and their families.

“We are committed to meeting our obligations to them and will continue to work with colleagues at the CSSIW and partner organisations.”