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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Swansea child protection concern | Swansea child protection concern |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Inspectors have raised concerns over the protection of vulnerable children by social services in Swansea. | Inspectors have raised concerns over the protection of vulnerable children by social services in Swansea. |
| They say the council is having problems meeting statutory targets and is taking too long to review new cases. | They say the council is having problems meeting statutory targets and is taking too long to review new cases. |
| In May the department was criticised for not properly following up child abuse allegations concerning a baby, Aaron Gilbert, who was later murdered. | In May the department was criticised for not properly following up child abuse allegations concerning a baby, Aaron Gilbert, who was later murdered. |
| Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas said the council would bring in experts to tackle the issues. | |
| It follows a wide-ranging review by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate (CSSIW) of children's services in Swansea. | It follows a wide-ranging review by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate (CSSIW) of children's services in Swansea. |
| Our staff work really hard in one of the most challenging areas of social work Paul Smith, chief executive, Swansea Council | Our staff work really hard in one of the most challenging areas of social work Paul Smith, chief executive, Swansea Council |
| The council's chief executive Paul Smith said it had raised concerns about some areas of the department. | The council's chief executive Paul Smith said it had raised concerns about some areas of the department. |
| These included its ability to meet some statutory targets aimed at protecting vulnerable children. | These included its ability to meet some statutory targets aimed at protecting vulnerable children. |
| 'Support and help' | 'Support and help' |
| It found a backlog of cases waiting to be allocated to social workers and that there was a lack of support and guidance for inexperienced staff. | It found a backlog of cases waiting to be allocated to social workers and that there was a lack of support and guidance for inexperienced staff. |
| The CSSIW also raised concerns over the council's recruitment and retention of social workers. | The CSSIW also raised concerns over the council's recruitment and retention of social workers. |
| Mr Smith said the council was already addressing many of the issues raised. | Mr Smith said the council was already addressing many of the issues raised. |
| "We have now developed an action plan which will build on our strengths and introduce further improvements," he added. | "We have now developed an action plan which will build on our strengths and introduce further improvements," he added. |
| "Our staff work really hard in one of the most challenging areas of social work - we want to provide them with more support and help." | "Our staff work really hard in one of the most challenging areas of social work - we want to provide them with more support and help." |
| Regular reports | |
| Although the inspection was not linked to the murder of 13-month-old Aaron Gilbert, Mr Smith said the action plan would also include any lessons that needed to be learned from that case. | Although the inspection was not linked to the murder of 13-month-old Aaron Gilbert, Mr Smith said the action plan would also include any lessons that needed to be learned from that case. |
| Aaron's mother Rebecca Lewis was jailed for six years after being one of the first people in the UK to be convicted of familial homicide for failing to protect her son. | Aaron's mother Rebecca Lewis was jailed for six years after being one of the first people in the UK to be convicted of familial homicide for failing to protect her son. |
| Her boyfriend Andrew Lloyd was jailed for 24 years for murdering the child. | Her boyfriend Andrew Lloyd was jailed for 24 years for murdering the child. |
| In a statement at the Welsh Assembly Ms Thomas said: "The review found there were serious concerns in core service areas. | |
| "I am pleased to see that the authority is responding positively. | |
| "In addition to receiving regular reports from the chief inspector I will want to meet senior members from Swansea at the appropriate time to hear of the progress they are making." |