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'Poor' children services warning 'Poor' children services warning
(about 2 hours later)
The assembly government has warned it will be forced to step in unless improvements are made to Cardiff Council's social services department. The assembly government could be forced to step in unless improvements are made to Cardiff Council's social services department, it has been warned.
A damning report on the authority's social services for children and young people found it is likely to miss most of its key annual performance targets.A damning report on the authority's social services for children and young people found it is likely to miss most of its key annual performance targets.
It comes two years after the department was brought out of special measures.It comes two years after the department was brought out of special measures.
The assembly's chair of the children and young people's committee said vulnerable children were being failed.The assembly's chair of the children and young people's committee said vulnerable children were being failed.
Helen Mary Jones AM, told BBC news the council has to act to improve the situation or she warned the assembly government will have to step back in to the situation. Helen Mary Jones AM, told BBC news the council has to act to improve the situation or she warned the assembly government will have to step back into the situation.
The council's internal report shows that out of 20 key targets for 2008-9 it is likely to hit just two.The council's internal report shows that out of 20 key targets for 2008-9 it is likely to hit just two.
Problems include finding adoption placements and the allocation of social workers to children in care.Problems include finding adoption placements and the allocation of social workers to children in care.
The authority said many of the targets not met still showed improvements over the previous year's figures.The authority said many of the targets not met still showed improvements over the previous year's figures.
The report, by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, assessed the department's performance in the first quarter of the 2008-9 year.The report, by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, assessed the department's performance in the first quarter of the 2008-9 year.
The report comes two years after the city's social services were brought out of special measures by the assembly government after the department was heavily criticised for the way it dealt with protecting vulnerable children.The report comes two years after the city's social services were brought out of special measures by the assembly government after the department was heavily criticised for the way it dealt with protecting vulnerable children.
I would agree that the first quarter's figures doesn't make comfortable reading for me but there have been exceptional pressures Councillor John Dixon, Cardiff CouncilI would agree that the first quarter's figures doesn't make comfortable reading for me but there have been exceptional pressures Councillor John Dixon, Cardiff Council
In 2002, it had one of the worst inspection reports in Wales and England and was monitored every three months by an assembly body until September 2006.In 2002, it had one of the worst inspection reports in Wales and England and was monitored every three months by an assembly body until September 2006.
The latest report found:The latest report found:
• The percentage of initial assessments carried out within seven working days reduced during the year• The percentage of initial assessments carried out within seven working days reduced during the year
• The percentage of core assessments carried out within 35 working days was also down and had not reached the target• The percentage of core assessments carried out within 35 working days was also down and had not reached the target
• The percentage of initial assessments of a child by a social worker was below the level expected• The percentage of initial assessments of a child by a social worker was below the level expected
• Some information about clients, such as religion and first language, was not being recorded and failed to meet targets set• Some information about clients, such as religion and first language, was not being recorded and failed to meet targets set
• The percentage of children on the Child Protection Register who have an allocated social worker had reduced• The percentage of children on the Child Protection Register who have an allocated social worker had reduced
• That not one child who at least six months previously had been recommended for adoption, had been placed for adoption in the period reviewed. The annual target is 85%.• That not one child who at least six months previously had been recommended for adoption, had been placed for adoption in the period reviewed. The annual target is 85%.
The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee report pointed out the department's performance had been affected by difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers and that management were trying to address this issue.The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee report pointed out the department's performance had been affected by difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers and that management were trying to address this issue.
A period of staff sickness, exceeding a level that could be absorbed, was also blamed.A period of staff sickness, exceeding a level that could be absorbed, was also blamed.
'Sustained improvements''Sustained improvements'
Councillor John Dixon, Cardiff Council's executive member for social care and health, said that many of the critical targets that were not met still showed significant improvements over the previous year's figures.Councillor John Dixon, Cardiff Council's executive member for social care and health, said that many of the critical targets that were not met still showed significant improvements over the previous year's figures.
"I'm not disagreeing that there are figures that still concern me - for initial assessments being made within seven days and the core assessments within 35 days - but as the last CSSIW (Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales) performance evaluation report acknowledges, the council has made consistent and sustained improvements over the last two years. "I'm not disagreeing that there are figures that still concern me - for initial assessments being made within seven days and the core assessments within 35 days - but as the last CSSIW (Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales) performance evaluation report acknowledges, the council has made consistent and sustained improvements over the last two years," he said.
"I would agree that the first quarter's figures doesn't make comfortable reading for me but there have been exceptional pressures - about a 20% increase in referrals at the same time as a significant number of new social work recruits were starting."I would agree that the first quarter's figures doesn't make comfortable reading for me but there have been exceptional pressures - about a 20% increase in referrals at the same time as a significant number of new social work recruits were starting.
"That means that we have to train the new staff, and maintain the service against a backdrop of increasing demand."That means that we have to train the new staff, and maintain the service against a backdrop of increasing demand.
"I have met with the Corporate Director and Head of Children's Social Services and am confident that performance against these indicators will improve over the year.""I have met with the Corporate Director and Head of Children's Social Services and am confident that performance against these indicators will improve over the year."
Councillor Bill Kelloway, chair of the children and young people's scrutiny committee for Cardiff Council, said: "There are certain challenges facing [social services], for example there has been a 20% increase in referrals at the same time as a number of new social workers have been recruited.
"There have been issues within training of social staff to bring them up to step to maintain the service.
"So there's been an increasing demand shall we say, against a backdrop of new staff and training."