Will the Welsh Government commit to an immediate, independent review of children’s social care in Wales given that the British Association of Social Workers Cymru called for an independent review of social work in Wales in its 2021 manifesto?
Through our Programme for Government, we have committed to radically reform services for children who are looked after and care leavers. As part of this ambition we will be eliminating profit from the care of looked after children, strengthening corporate parenting responsibilities and funding parental advocacy services across Wales. Taken together these commitments will transform Children’s Services so they are able to provide the very best support and protection or vulnerable children in Wales.
Through the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, we have introduced new and strengthened safeguarding arrangements for Wales, underpinned by the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and All Wales Practice Guides issued in 2019.
In light of the recent tragic Logan Mwangi case, that there have been calls for an immediate, independent review of children’s social care in Wales. While our thoughts are with everyone affected by Logan’s death, I do not intend to undertake an independent review of children’s social care. I look forward to the findings from the ongoing Child Practice Review and the planned inspection by Care Inspectorate Wales to identify potential learning from this upsetting case.