Signs of progress but still room to improve
Island Children’s Services on right track after damning 2017 report
ACHILDREN’S services department is showing signs of improvement, 12 months after being slammed in a damning report by Wales’ care watchdog.
The original CSSIW inspection, published in March 2017, found that care and support for vulnerable children on Anglesey “must be improved,” with the council lacking enough staff to deal with several issues.
It also found that while Anglesey council was responsive when a child might be at risk, “referral information received from partners was poor”.
But a year on, the body (now renamed CIW) now acknowledges that “positive improvements” are already being made, with a full follow-up inspection planned for later in the year.
In a letter, the care watchdog noted, “The local authority continues to be on a journey but now has good foundations in place.
“We are pleased to note significant progress has now been achieved in the implementation of a new structure for children’s services.”
The department, which cares for the county’s vulnerable children and teenagers, has been subject to an improvement plan, having employed several additional members of staff.
But in addition to its operational difficulties, it’s also expected to overspent its budget by £1.899m this year, putting additional pressure on the council’s slowly dwindling reserves.
This, according to the council, is largely a result of having to secure out of county agency foster placements – which can cost £220,000 a year per child, with demand heavily outstrip- ping the number of carers on the island.
Anglesey is far from alone in that regard, with a recent study finding that three quarters of English councils have overspent their children’s services budget, totalling £605 million.
Meanwhile, according to the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), the last decade has seen a sharp rise in the number of children in the Welsh care system, with a 25% increase in children looked after and a 32% increase in children placed in the child protection register compared with 10 years ago.
According to council leader, Llinos Medi, there are certain aspects that remain out of the authority’s control, but remains “steadfast” in her determination to see the service improve.
“What we’re facing is a national issue in many ways,” she said.
“That said, the progress so far is encouraging but short of where we want to be of course.
“One of, if not the most important tasks a county council has responsibility for is looking after its most vulnerable. As a mother of two myself, I’m determined that no-one should be left behind and we’re working tirelessly to improve the service we offer.”
Fôn Roberts, Anglesey’s newly appointed Head of Children’s Services, acknowledged that the process will take time but remains confident that firm foundations are already in place.
“The service has come a long way since this report was published and made a number of significant improvements,” he said.
“New senior managers are now in place and the service has been restructured into smaller practice groups, enabling better guidance and supervision to social workers.
“We’ve introduced an important new prevention and early intervention service, in the form of Teulu Môn; and taken steps to strengthened safeguarding and quality assurance.”
He added: “There has been a greater focus on partnership working, in particular North Wales Police and the health board, but also internally.
“Recruitment, induction, training and support given to staff has also been revisited to promote improvement.
“We recognise that there is a great deal more work to do, and that it will take time, but these proactive steps have helped us create firm foundations for sustainable improvement.”