Bridgend Council’s Cabinet will receive an update on the progress made towards implementing recommendations from a review of child protection services (pdf).
The inspection – undertaken in June 2023 – was jointly carried out by Estyn (school inspectorate), Care Inspectorate Wales, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.
The scope of the inspection included Bridgend Council’s social services department, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board and South Wales Police.
The inspection wasn’t related to a particular incident. However, it was conducted soon after the murder of Logan Mwangi. During this time, BCBC, the health board, and the police received criticism for not intervening appropriately before the tragedy.
The report suggests that work towards the vast majority of recommendations is either complete or underway as of October 2023.
Some of the most important actions include:
- The introduction of a new information-sharing system (GOSS) and a review of the multi-agency safeguarding hub.
- All social care teams have undertaken training courses on signs of safety and harm reduction.
- An additional 6 education welfare officers (aka. “whipperines”) have been recruited by BCBC.
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg has started a review into DBS checks amongst staff.
There’s an expectation that all actions recommended following inspection will be acted upon by autumn 2024 at the latest – though some actions are deemed to be more urgent than others.
