Dyddiad /Date:                                                       8^th November 2019

Gofynnwch am/Please ask for:                              Naomi Alleyne       

Llinell uniongyrchol/Direct line:                            029 2046 8660

Ebost/Email:                                                           naomi.alleyne@wlga.gov.uk

 

 

Mr Nick Ramsay AM

Chair, Public Accounts Committee

National Assembly for Wales

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1NA

 

By e-mail only

 

Dear Nick,

 

Thank you for your letter in relation to care experienced children and young people and the work to develop ‘bespoke reduction expectation plans’ for each local authority in Wales to reduce the number of looked after children in its care.  The response below is based on on-going discussions with local authorities, including WLGA Spokespeople, Cabinet Members and Leaders and with Welsh Government officials and the Deputy Minister.

 

Like many others, including Welsh Government, local government is concerned at the significant rise in the number of looked after children in the care of local authorities.  While there are many factors that have led to this rise and increased numbers of looked after children are reflected across all parts of the UK, the recent report from Care Inspectorate Wales reflected that those children who are in care are there appropriately. This finding provides some assurance that authorities are making the right decisions about the children who need to be looked after, although we also fully appreciate the current situation is unsustainable and appropriate focus and serious efforts need to be made to reduce the number of children that need to be looked after by a local authority. 

 

The submission of a reduction expectation plan by each local authority demonstrates local governments’ commitment to tackle this issue and increase our efforts on preventative work with families, and other programmes of work with the aim of reducing the number of children who need to be taken into care. While reducing the number of children in care may reduce some costs for local authorities over time, in order to achieve this ambitionwe need to recognise the need for additional investment from Welsh Government to support the development and provision of appropriate preventative and early intervention services, for example, increased access to therapeutic support and trauma-informed models of care, as well as increased family support services.  The support and involvement of other public services, such as health and education, is also required to ensure a holistic approach to supporting children and young people and their families is provided.

 

Throughout the discussions about this approach with Welsh Government you will be aware that there has been a strength of feeling about setting ‘reduction expectation’ numbers and concern that this approach could inadvertently negatively impact on operational decisions about whether a child should be brought into the care system or not.  We have welcomed and support the ‘safety first’ approach that has been clearly set out by the Deputy Minister and all are clear that the safety and best interest of the child should override any other consideration. The WLGA and local authorities continue to have regular discussions with both the Deputy Minister and Welsh Government Officials, working closely with them, to help shape the approach being taken and ensure a collaborative approach is adopted that will provide a useful new frame for authorities to think about their services around vulnerable children and families in the most holistic way.  Local authorities are also considering what peer support and peer challenge can be provided to help authorities