To present to Cabinet the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales Inspection of Children’s Services Report and related Action Plan and request that that Cabinet endorse the action plan and arrangements for monitoring the actions. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing presented the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales Inspection of Children's Services (CSSIW) Inspection of Children’s Services Report and related Action Plan.

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that the CSSIW had worked together with key stakeholders to develop a new framework for local authority inspection, engagement and performance review.  She stated that the inspection in Children’s Social Care in Bridgend focused on how children and families are encompassed to access help and care and support services and on the quality of outcomes achieved for children in need of help, care and support and/or protection, including children who have recently become looked after by the local authority.  The inspection also evaluated the quality of leadership, management and governance arrangements in place to develop and support service delivery.  As part of its inspection, the CSSIW inspected the work by assessing a sample of 20 cases out of a total of 65 cases.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed Cabinet that the CSSIW had recently presented its findings and action plan to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2017. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing reported that the inspectors had found that the authority had worked hard in the context of the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 to reshape its services during a period of significant change and impending transition of services to a Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).  She stated that the Inspectors were already taking steps to look at the impact services were having on reducing need and risk and the authority was working hard to transform children’s social services at a time when it had to deliver medium term financial savings.  The Inspectors found that the Council had positively begun work to develop a more comprehensive evidenced based commissioning plan that would be key to the delivery of its early help and permanence strategy. 

The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed Cabinet that an Action Plan had been developed in response to the recommendations made by the CSSIW, which would be monitored by the Early Help and Safeguarding Board. 

The Cabinet Member Social Services and Early Help thanked the Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing, Head of Children’s Social Care and the team of officers for their support in work with the CSSIW during the course of the inspection.  He also thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its positive comments on the inspection.  He stated that the comments made by the CSSIW on staff morale would be taken on board and staff would shortly receive a Corporate Employee Survey.  He also urged all Members to attend rota visiting training arranged by the Directorate.  The Leader requested that Cabinet receive a further report on progress being made on the Action Plan.  The Cabinet Member Communities recognised the efforts made by staff and was appreciative of their efforts in supporting the Inspection. 

RESOLVED:            That Cabinet:

(1)          received the CSSIW report on the inspection of Bridgend’s Children’s Social Care and endorsed the associated Action Plan;

receives a further report on progress being made on the Action Plan in 6  months.