Welsh Labour responds to publication of critical Children’s Services Inspection Report
Following the publication of a highly critical report into Powys County Council’s Children’s Services Department, the Council’s Welsh Labour Group is urging the Tory-Independent administration to put in place rigorous monitoring procedures to ensure vulnerable children are protected from harm and risk.
The report, by the regulator the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), follows a routine inspection carried out in July 2017 and highlights significant failings in how the Council cares for children in Powys.
These include weak leadership from the Council’s senior team that was not focussed on Children’s Services, inflated usage of agency staff in team manager roles and a worryingly high turnover of Heads of Children’s Services.
The care regulator has put forward 29 recommendations to drive improvements in the service – seven of which must be implemented within one month.
Welsh Labour Councillors want to see a robust system of performance monitoring put in place by Cabinet with additional resources made available by the Council for scrutiny and service improvements.
Welsh Labour’s Group Leader Cllr Matthew Dorrance said:
“It is clear that the people in power at Powys County Council have taken their eye off the ball. They need to apologise and put things right.
“The number one priority for the Tory-Independent run Council must be to urgently bring forward a robust plan that details how they will turn this failing service around.
“Despite the failings of the Council, the Inspection highlighted the good work our staff do in tough circumstances and often without the backing they need. They must be supported through this process.
“The Labour Group warned successive Cabinets about the impacts of slashing preventative services. Evidence now shows that relentless budget cuts have harmed children and young people in Powys.
“Safeguarding children living in Powys must be upmost in our priorities going forward.”
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