Serious Powys services concerns remain
Care Inspectors still have “serious concerns” about Powys County Council’s Children’s Services Department.
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspected the department again in October 2018.
CIW acknowledged that the under fire department has improved slightly since the damning October 2017 report, but said it was seriously concerned about workforce turnover.
The organisation said it will continue to monitor every three months and could return to re-inspect the department within 18 months.
In a statement the CIW, said: “There continue to be areas of practice where we have serious concerns.
“The continued turnover in the workforce and temporary middle management arrangements have been significant factors impeding the pace of change.”
The CIW says that improvements since the last inspection include greater corporate oversight of children’s services, development of quality assurance, greater ease of access to the ‘front door’ of children’s services, improved applications for court orders and greater frequency of visits to children looked after and those subject to child protection registration.
They have given four priority areas for development.
They include ensuring "there is a clear strategic vision to deliver a seamless service and further develop collaborative working with health, education and the third sector to benefit children and families".
The department has also been told to "develop better commissioning arrangements to ensure appropriate placements for children who are looked after. This includes improving choice of placements, reducing the numbers of children placed in an emergency and placed without agreed educational provision".
Other demands include ensuring "early multi agency involvement in safeguarding and ensure an immediate response to children at risk of sexual exploitation", and that "investigation of complaints are thorough and in accordance with Welsh Government guidelines".
They also commend the new plans to restructure Children’s Services, which they feel can improve the department.
PCC will have 20 working days now to review its existing improvement plan.
PCC has been asked to comment.
By Elgan Hearn - Local Democracy Reporter
