Oral - Hyfrydle

On the 15 July this year a decision was taken by the cabinet of Denbighshire County Council to close Hyfrydle children’s home. The home provided all-year residential care and was the final phase in a project to create a regional centre for children with autistic spectrum disorders at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn. The local authority’s decision gave rise to considerable local disquiet, particularly as Hyfrydle only opened in November of last year.

I asked the chief inspectors of Estyn and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales to undertake a joint review of what had taken place, focusing on four specific aspects. These were the decision-making process that had led to the opening of Hyfrydle in November 2007, a critical-path analysis of the period between November 2007 and July 2008, the planning that the local authority had undertaken to meet the needs of young people already in residence at Hyfrydle and of any young people planned to be admitted, and an assessment of the potential effect of the closure of Hyfrydle on other services at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn. The inspectors’ report has been published today, and I am grateful for this opportunity to bring its main conclusions to the attention of Assembly Members.

It is important to make it clear that inspectors were not asked to make a judgment on the rightness, or otherwise, of the local authority’s decision to close the facility. The report provides a detailed account of the immediate and long-term processes that led to that conclusion.

The report makes it clear that, by November 2007, the viability of a 52-week residential provision was already in question. The inspectors draw attention to the changing context. Over the seven years since the project was first proposed, alternative models of care and support for children with ASD have emerged. In addition, independent sector facilities were established in the area in direct competition to Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn and its residential facilities.

While the local authority knew and accepted that Hyfrydle represented a substantial financial risk, its scale and nature had not been fully understood, analysed or anticipated by the county council. The report highlights a series of limitations in project development, including poor project governance and communication, limited market appraisal and research, a lack of continuity and a high turnover in key staff, an absence of effective joint working between different departments of the local authority, and insufficient professional expertise in the specialist area of developing and operating a children’s home.

Hyfrydle was initially registered as a home for six children, but it had only two children in residence. In January 2008, local authority officers were projecting a running cost deficit of well in excess of £0.5 million by the end of the present financial year, all of which would have to be found by Denbighshire. In February, councillors were informed that there were no additional referrals in the pipeline.

Efforts followed to recruit residents from other parts of Wales and from English authorities. In March, expressions of interest led to some optimism that the home might reach its break-even point. However, it became clear that only three prospective new residents had been identified, leaving Hyfrydle still below the minimum viable number. On 15 July, the Denbighshire cabinet received a report that outlined four options in relation to Hyfrydle. Inspectors describe the option to close Hyfrydle as being based on a well-argued and valid financial case.

While the inspectors conclude that the closure has had little impact on other local educational and social care facilities at the Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn site, the report makes it clear that the decision left little time to work with the children and families most directly affected, giving cause for concern to parents. The local authority also clearly underestimated the impact on its reputation and on its relationships with key partners. The report provides a detailed account of the largely successful efforts made by individual workers to secure alternative arrangements for the very vulnerable children affected. I am sure that Members would wish to extend our appreciation to all those who have worked so hard to deal with the consequences of Hyfrydle’s closure, including addressing parental concerns.

While the primary responsibility here clearly belongs to the local authority, I am also concerned that the Welsh Assembly Government should learn whatever lessons are to be drawn from this review. I have therefore asked the newly arrived director of my department, David Hawker, to provide me with a detailed account of the actions that he will want to take in responding to the report’s findings.

With the report only having been in the public domain for some three hours, I am not in a position to give Members a detailed account of the actions that will now be taken. Nevertheless, I can report that, in addition to the internal Welsh Assembly Government actions, on Monday of last week, the Wales Audit Office began a planned review of the corporate governance of Denbighshire County Council. The auditor general has already been alerted to the publication of today’s report, and my colleague Brian Gibbons has written to provide him with a copy. I understand that the Wales Audit Office expects to reach outline conclusions in November.

This month, the CSSIW has begun its planned annual review of the performance of Denbighshire in social services. On 9 October, I will meet the leader of the county council, Councillor Hugh Evans, and Hyfrydle will be the only agenda item for that meeting. On 23 October, the Denbighshire Independent Education Recovery Board will hold its next meeting. The joint inspectors’ report will be an agenda item for that meeting.

In the meantime, I intend to reinforce the terms of reference of the board with regard to the interface between education and social services in Denbighshire, which was a cause for concern highlighted in the original Estyn review.

CSSIW will undertake its annual inspection of Gerddi Glasfryn this autumn, and, in March 2009, Estyn will carry out a full re-inspection of the Denbighshire education authority, one year on from the concerns that gave rise to the appointment of the recovery board. I have already begun discussions with Estyn and CSSIW to ensure that the inspection team is fully equipped to deal with areas where education and social services matters come together.

Deputy Presiding Officer, that concludes the statement I am able to make today on this matter.