LABOUR is demanding answers from Swansea council on the state of the city’s social services department, which has experienced a “disastrous decline in quality” under the Liberal Democrats.

The party has submitted a motion to be discussed by the council tonight in which Labour group leader David Phillips demands urgent statements from the Lib Dems on:

• The damming findings of the care and Social Services Inspectorate report into Swansea council’s social services, which found the child and family service to be one of the worst in Wales
• The reasons for the disastrous decline in the performance of the service since 2004
• The performance of the city’s child protection services in the tragic case of Aaron Gilbert, specifically whether disciplinary action has been considered or taken

DAVID PHILLIPS said:

“When Labour was in power in Swansea in 2004, our social services department was found to be amongst the best in Wales, a record we are rightly proud of. Now, under the Liberal Democrats, Swansea’s service is amongst the worst in Wales.

“This is a matter of the utmost seriousness and urgency. We are talking here about some of the most vulnerable children in Swansea. This matter cannot be brushed under the carpet by the administration – we must have the facts.

“I want to know what has happened since 2004 that could have led to the disastrous decline in the quality of service that the recent report highlighted. To what extent have these failings been failures of policy and political leadership, individual professional failure or failings of the system under which the professionals operate?

“Yet to date the cabinet member has made no formal statement to council on any of these areas: no statement on the Aaron Gilbert case, no statement on the serious concerns of the inspectorate and nothing on what has led to the disastrous decline in services. Perhaps most shamefully, she has repeatedly refused to take any responsibility for the failed performance of the Social Services Department for which she has political supervision.

“People in Swansea are entitled to answers from this administration. But all we have received so far evasion. This is not good enough.”

Notes
The wording of the motion going to Swansea council:
In 2004 the Joint Review of the City & County of Swansea (‘Swansea’) Social Services found it amongst the best in Wales, praising amongst other areas the performance of children’s services.

In May 2004, the Swansea Administration coalition took control of the Council, promising “openness, transparency and accountability”.

In 2005, a 13 month old child, Aaron Gilbert, tragically died. The Serious Case review found there were lessons to be learnt by Swansea Social Services amongst other agencies.

In 2007 the Care & Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (‘CSSIW’) Inspection report found serious concerns about the performance of core areas of Swansea’s Child & Family Services, making it one of the worst in Wales.

Council needs to understand what has happened since 2004 that could have led to the disastrous decline in the quality of service that these matters indicate and to what extent these failings were failures of policy & political leadership, individual professional failure or failings of the system under which the professionals operate. Yet to date the Cabinet Member has made no formal statement to Council on any of these areas: no statement on the Aaron Gilbert case, no statement on the serious concerns of the CSSIW and nothing on what led to the disastrous decline in services. To date she has publicly and repeatedly refused to take any responsibility for the performance of the Social Services Department under her supervision.

Council therefore resolves to hold an Extraordinary Meeting of Council on the 31st January 2008 at 4pm, with these matters being its only items of business.

At this meeting Council wishes, at the minimum, to receive three written statements from the Cabinet Member which it can debate:
 one on the performance of Swansea’s Child Protection services in the Aaron Gilbert case; the findings of the Serious Case Review in respect of the lessons that had to be learnt, if disciplinary action was appropriate and taken and what changes were made for the future;
 the second on the findings of the CSSIW Inspection report and what actions as a result have so far been taken and are still to be taken;
 and the third on the reasons for the disastrous decline in the quality of service since 2004 that these matters indicate.

Council should be advised what steps have been taken in regards to implementing the specific recommendations of the Laming Report.

Council will need to be reassured that the performance of Social Services in regards to Aaron Gilbert was an isolated failure with no links, common themes or parallels with the serious concerns about performance found in the CSSIW report.

Council will be seeking the Cabinet Member’s specific assurance that the recommendations of the Serious Case Review have been fully implemented, that the failures identified have been remedied and that Swansea’s Child & Family Services (and the Child Protection Unit in particular) are fit for purpose and that she has a direct involvement in an action plan to ensure that they remain so. Council will seek the further assurance that Swansea Social Services under her leadership is a ‘learning’ organisation committed to rebuilding confidence in its services, such that the tragic events of 2005 will not recur.

D. Phillips, J. Burtonshaw, A. Lloyd, J. Miles, C. Thomas, M. Child, R. Stewart, R. Francis Davies.