Responding to the report by the BBC on the numbers of looked after children in Wales in comparison to other UK nations, the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru President, Jonathan Griffiths said:
“Supporting vulnerable families to stay together wherever safe and appropriate remains the ambition of all Children’s Services in Wales.
“Our members have been working with Welsh Government on a safe reduction strategy to address factors that influence the numbers of children who are coming into the care system. However, all stakeholders recognise that it is not just a challenge for social care or local government to solve in isolation, but rather a broader, multifaceted issue that is affected by so many factors, such as parental substance misuse, mental health, housing, education, employment, crime and poverty, policy and law.
“The decision as to whether a child should be placed in care is not arrived at solely by local authorities, and often a range of inter-related and complex factors contribute to these decisions being made. Nevertheless, our duty is always to safeguard children at risk in line with our statutory duties.
“As the voice of leadership for social services, we have a vision to safeguard all individuals who are at risk, and going forward our members will continue their already well evidenced drive to improve policy, partnership working, interventions and services that support families and prevent family breakdown. If we are to succeed, we need this commitment to the issue to be reflected across the partnership landscape.”
ENDS
Note to editors:
Contact:
Rachel Pitman
Communications and Engagement Lead, ADSS Cymru Business Unit
- The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) Cymru is the national professional and strategic leadership organisation for social services. We are a membership organisation, representing all 22 local authorities in Wales.
- As the national leadership organisation for social services in Wales, the role of ADSS Cymru is to represent the collective, authoritative voice of Directors of Social Services, Heads of Adult Services, and Children’s Services, together with professionals who support vulnerable children and adults, their families and communities, on a range of national and regional issues of social care policy, practice and resourcing. It is the only national body that can articulate the view of those professionals who lead our social care services.
- For more information, go to: https://adss.cymru
