Bridgend Council’s social services department is gradually reducing the number of children taken into care according to a report due to be discussed by a Bridgend Council scrutiny committee later today (pdf).
During 2020-21, the number of children looked after by the local authority fell from 394 to 384.
In the same year, just one baby remained in care after three babies who were taken into care were returned to their parents; 86% of families were supported to keep their baby out of care.
Overall, between 92-96% of older children at risk were kept out of care.
The Welsh Government’s policy is to reduce the number of looked-after children, with Bridgend Council seeking to – where possible – encourage relatives of the child to act as foster carers/guardians or to make sure the child can remain with their parents, subject to a care order.
There was, however, some bad news.
As mentioned by the Bridgend Council Leader, Cllr. Huw David (Lab, Cefn Cribwr), at the monthly council meeting last week, early help services are under significant pressure.
The report says that the number of referrals to early help have increased by 21% during 2021-22, not helped by staff shortages in social care, budget pressures and – of course – the pandemic.
Vulnerable care-leaver and foster carer awarded £17,000 compensation by Ombudsman
Although not mentioned in the report, there was another piece of (somewhat related) bad news for Bridgend social services.
The Public Services Ombudsman has ordered a vulnerable care-leaver and their foster parent to be paid £17,000 in compensation after Bridgend Council failed to properly manage a care departure.
The Ombudsman concluded the council’s failure to prepare for the departure denied the care-leaver – named Ms G – “an appropriately resourced transitional living arrangement that could have improved her life chances”.
“This is a shocking case where a catalogue of failings by the local authority led to a young care leaver and her foster carer being left without the support to which they were entitled.
“These failings are even more disappointing given Ms G’s ongoing vulnerability, her care leaver status and the practice principles that Local Authorities are expected to follow when making decisions about young people leaving care.”
– Public Services Ombudsman, Nick Bennett
The Ombudsman found that a complaint to social services wasn’t properly handled and gave the impression of being biased in the council’s favour. They also found that the foster carer and Ms G’s Article 8 (Human Rights Act) right to privacy in their home life and private correspondence wasn’t respected by the council.
The compensation will be divided equally between Ms G and their foster carer.
The Ombudsman made several recommendations to Bridgend Council, including a review of how departures from care are planned, providing departure from care and human rights training to staff and a full investigation of complaints handling.
