Debate on the care and social services report

AMs gathered in the siambr to discuss the care and social services annual report, that stressed the urgent need for social services to improve significantly, to prevent standards from declining, on 26 January 2010.

The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales annual report underlines concerns with regards to widespread variation in the performance, quality and shape of social services provision.

Jonathan Corbett, the Acting Chief Inspector for Care and Social Services, stresses in order for social services to deliver effectively, they need to be improved on all levels.

Whilst the report commends the improvement to some social services across Wales, Mr Corbett underlined that the gap between the best and worst performing authorities in Wales was far too big.

The report specifically stresses the need for all professionals and organisations to share equal commitment in protecting children.

There are significant inconsistencies in the services received by children in need who are not on the child protection register and not looked after, according to the report.

It calls for consistency at national, regional and local levels to ensure that safeguarding children remains a priority and that responsibility for this is owned and shared by everyone.

Whilst the Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas welcomed its findings, she admitted that local authorities faced many challenges in improving social services across Wales.

Ms Thomas said it was crucial for all local authorities become more consistent with the services they provided.

The deputy minister expressed concern with the huge difference between the highest and lowest performers and called for this gap to be narrowed significantly.

appear here.