The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported on the outcome of the recent Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) inspection into the Safeguarding and Care Planning arrangements for looked After Children and Care Leavers who exhibit vulnerable or risky behaviours.  He stated that the inspection was carried out as part of CSSIW’s national thematic inspection programme, with all local authorities in Wales subject to the same inspection.  The findings will form a CSSIW national overview to be published later this year and would be brought to a future meeting of this Committee.  The aim of the inspection in Bridgend was to assess the quality of care planning.

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that the inspection focused primarily on work undertaken with looked after children over eleven years of age and care leavers who were identified as being vulnerable and/or involved in risky behaviours, against defined criteria.  As well as inspecting cases in respect of the assessment, care planning and review systems, the inspection also considered the extent to which the corporate parenting, management and partnership arrangements acted to promote improved outcome for children and care leavers.  It also considered how organisational structures including, workforce, resources, advocacy and quality assurance mechanisms impacted on the quality of care planning.  He outlined the five questions which the inspection assessed the Council against. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that the CSSIW report had a significant number of positives, balanced with a similar number of areas for improvement and to address the areas for improvement, a post inspection action plan had been developed.  He stated that the areas in need of improvement are green in status with plans in place to address any outstanding areas for improvement. 

The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support reported that the CSSIW report acknowledged that Children’s Services was recognised as a corporate priority parenting arrangements which were embedded through this Committee with a strong focus on the wellbeing and progress of looked after children.  He informed the Committee a number of Welsh local authorities had asked if they could observe a future meeting of the Committee or receive a copy of the Committee’s terms of reference.  He stated that Members needed to assure themselves that strategic aims were being effectively owned and translated into action across the Council and partner agencies. 

The Chairperson informed the Committee that the inspection had been commissioned by the CSSIW in light of the child abuse cases in Rotherham.  He stated that it was worth reflecting the on the lack of accountability in areas of the United Kingdom to ensure the most vulnerable are protected and highlighted the importance of ensuring that safeguarding arrangements were implemented effectively. 

The Committee requested assurances that the actions currently showing red and amber in status be changed to green in status and whether the actions could be included in the Corporate Performance Assessment.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee the actions shown as red and amber were not all pertinent to Social Services but would ensure there was oversight and scrutiny on the actions.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that Red, Amber and Green would be properly monitored and any exceptions would be reported to the Committee.  The Committee considered that safeguarding be monitored by the Local Service Board. 

The Committee questioned whether there would be Member representation at Board level.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that the Health and Wellbeing Board had been established and is chaired by the Corporate Director Education and Transformation.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed the Committee that the Care Partnership Board id chaired by the Leader and that the Cabinet Members Wellbeing and Children and Young People are also members of that Board.  The Chairperson stated that the Committee would be advised if Members could have sight of the Board papers. 

The Committee questioned whether the re-structure of support services for looked after children had reduced caseloads.  The Head of Safeguarding and Family Support informed the Committee that a number of cases had been identified which were closed and he anticipated that many cases could be allocated to non-Social Work staff.           

RESOLVED:                That the Committee noted the content of the CSSIW report and its associated appendices.