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The Panel heard updates on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Swansea Bay, the Regional Safeguarding Board's annual report and the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) assurance check of Child and Family Services. The minute records no decisions on these items. The Panel welcomed the information and asked questions, and it considered its work plan for the rest of the year.
No disclosures of interest were received.
No declarations were made.
Panel agreed the Minutes of the meeting on 18 June 2026 as an accurate record of the meeting.
Letter to Cabinet Member following the meeting on 18 June 2026 was noted.
No questions were received.
Delia Richards, Lead Nurse for Swansea Bay CAMHS, delivered a presentation outlining the structure of CAMHS, current demand levels, referral pathways, waiting times and services available to children and young people. Key Points Made: • CAMHS received over 2,700 referrals during the previous year, representing continuing growth in demand. • The service comprises a range of specialist teams including a Single Point of Access, Brief Intervention Team, Further Intervention Team, Crisis Team, Psychological Therapies Team, Eating Disorders Team and School In-Reach Team. • Around 50% of referrals are redirected to alternative services following triage. • CAMHS continues to meet the Mental Health Measure target of assessing 80% of referrals within 28 days and has shown improvement in waiting times for interventions. • Crisis cases can be assessed within four hours where required. • The service is developing a multi-agency front door approach to improve access and reduce duplication for families. Key Questions from Members: • How do Swansea Bay CAMHS waiting times compare with Welsh Government targets? • Are there particular mental health conditions or age groups where demand is increasing most rapidly? • What proportion of referrals are redirected elsewhere and how do you know those young people receive the support they need? • Can CAMHS monitor whether redirected children return to the service because the referral elsewhere was unsuccessful? • How effective is CAMHS in working with schools before children reach crisis point? • What outcomes data are collected to demonstrate positive outcomes for children and young people? • Are urgent cases prioritised within the referral process? The Panel welcomed the comprehensive overview provided and recognised the efforts being made by CAMHS to respond to increasing demand while maintaining timely access to support.
David Howes and Linzi Margetson presented an update on the work of the Regional Safeguarding Board, with particular emphasis on the development of the Safeguarding Intelligence Hub. Key Points Made: • The Board has adopted an intelligence-led safeguarding approach. • Information from social services, police, health, probation and other partners is brought together to identify emerging trends and risks. • The approach seeks to strengthen preventative work and target interventions more effectively. • Key risks currently identified include exploitation, youth violence, weapon related incidents and online harms. • Feedback from children and young people continues to inform Board priorities. Key Questions from Members: • What difference has the Safeguarding Intelligence Hub made since it was introduced? • What are the most significant safeguarding risks currently affecting children and young people? • Is the increase in home education a safeguarding concern? • How confident are you that partner agencies have sufficient capacity to contribute effectively to safeguarding arrangements? • How is information from children and young people influencing Board priorities and decision making? • Are there any current safeguarding concerns the Panel should be particularly aware of regarding exploitation and online harm? Actions: • Regional Safeguarding Board Annual Report to be circulated to Members once formally approved.
Alyson Anthony and Julie Davies presented the findings from the Care Inspectorate Wales inspection and outlined progress against the resulting improvement plan. Key Points Made: • The inspection presented a positive overall picture of Child and Family Services. • Staff were recognised as child-centred, reflective and committed to achieving positive outcomes for children and families. • Strong leadership and an embedded Signs of Safety practice model were highlighted. • Areas identified for improvement included recording practices, quality assurance activity, chronologies and step-up/step-down arrangements. • A detailed action plan is in place and is being monitored monthly. • Work is underway to improve placement sufficiency and transition to the Mosaic recording system. Key Questions from Members: • What are the main barriers to increasing the availability of registered local placements? • How many children are currently in unregistered placements and what is being done to reduce that number? • Do those children represent all age ranges? • When will the new Mosaic recording system be introduced and what improvements will it deliver? • How will the Panel monitor progress against the CIW Action Plan? The Panel welcomed the positive findings of the inspection and recognised the work undertaken by staff and management throughout the service. Members also welcomed the robust action plan and ongoing focus on continuous improvement. Actions: • Progress against the CIW Action Plan to be reported back to the Panel through performance monitoring reports or a dedicated inspection oversight report, to be confirmed.
Panel considered the work plan and noted items for the next meeting.
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