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There is no summary of this meeting yet. Summaries are written once the council publishes the minutes, which are its official record of what a meeting decided. They usually appear a few weeks after the meeting.
Cllr Mark Tribe was confirmed as Temporary Convener in Cllr Hood-Williams’ absence.
No disclosures of interest were received.
No declarations were made.
Panel agreed the Minutes of the meeting on 6 January 2026 as an accurate record of the meeting.
Letter to Cabinet Member following the meeting on 6 January 2026 was noted.
No questions were received.
Nichola Rogers, Regional Adoption Manager presented an overview of the recent Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspection, highlighting significant areas of good practice, required improvements, and the subsequent actions being taken. Areas of Good Practice - • Strong psychological and therapeutic support for children and young people. • A robust multidisciplinary model supporting adopters and adopted adults. • A positive, supportive team culture with regular supervision and strong ethos. • Western Bay recognised as an exemplar regional service in Wales. Required Improvements - • Two must actions: • Establish a full records management system with appropriate policy documents. • Ensure the biannual regulatory report fully meets CIW requirements. • Should improvements included: • Strengthening Welsh early permanence • Improving communication/written materials for adopters • Ensuring equitable medical advice • Increasing diversity among panel members • Clearer agency decision recording • Updating marketing strategy • Revising the partnership agreement. Progress and Governance - • A draft records management policy is now developed and under review within each local authority. • Improvement plan submitted to CIW by end of December; quarterly review meetings arranged with CIW. • Management Board continues to oversee and challenge progress. Panel asked questions about changes being made to address the must-improvement areas; what is being done to help adopters and birth families understand the support available.
Julie Davies, Head of Child and Family Services presented the December performance report and highlighted a range of performance issues and service pressures. Key points Made: Demand and Service Pressures - • Sustained increase in front‑door demand, including a 300% rise in probation contacts. • A full demand analysis is underway; findings expected next quarter. Duty System - • New duty arrangements provide immediate contact for families and reduce the need for case allocation. • Early feedback from families has been positive. Child Protection and Looked After Children - • Child Protection Register numbers have risen to the highest level since 2021. • Numbers partly influenced by families rehoused in Swansea under existing plans from other areas. • Looked‑after‑children figures have decreased due to earlier support and longer work within child protection plans. Workforce - • Social worker vacancy levels are the lowest in nearly six years, with critical statutory team vacancies reduced from 45–50% to under 10%, and only six agency workers remaining. The Panel welcomed the improvement in workforce stability. Panel asked questions about analysis of increased front door demand; child protection register numbers; length of time taken to complete some assessments.
Louise Beckett, Learning and Innovation Manager updated the Panel on progress across the programme’s three themes Prevention, Permanence and People. Key Points Made: Prevention - • Strengthened early help hubs • Stabilised domestic abuse hub staffing • Ongoing contextual safeguarding work with CMET Permanence - • Continued reduction in looked‑after children • Increased in‑house fostering and residential capacity People - • Workforce capacity increased through recruitment and alternative qualification routes • Cross‑directorate training review underway • Cautious development of digital/AI tools • Preparations for the transition to Mosaic Panel asked questions about the difference the All-Wales referral form will make; how we know Born into Care is improving outcomes.
• Panel agreed to add ‘Review of Residential Property Purchases’ to the work plan for the new municipal year. • Officers to bring ‘Headlines from the CIW inspection of Child & Family Services’ to the next meeting on 1 April 2026.
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