Written - Children’s Social Services in Bridgend County Borough Council

The Chief Inspector CSSIW met today with the Chief Executive and Senior Officers in the authority to inform them of his decision to lift the protocol for responding to serious concerns in relation to Bridgend’s children’s social services. This decision follows a full review of children’s social services in Bridgend which took place in April 2008 and a further focussed review April 2009. There had previously been regular ongoing monitoring of children’s  services by Inspectors.

This inspection found that social services staff and managers have continued to work hard and have secure substantial improvements in the timeliness and quality of the work they do with children and to establish more robust systems for consistent assessment of risk and effective decision making. There is effective corporate leadership and support for children’s social services and performance management arrangements have been established.

The authority and its officers have achieved a significant turnaround.  While the improvement journey is not yet complete, there is strong leadership and a much improved culture and services for vulnerable children have greatly improved.  They deserve congratulation for the substantial progress they have made, in overcoming serious past problems and improving the service to vulnerable children and their families.  They have the commitment and capacity to continue this progress.

This is an important decision by the Chief Inspector which recognises the significant progress that the authority has made, since the protocol was invoked. I will be meeting with the Leader, members and officers of the authority to congratulate them on the progress they have achieved and to emphasise the need to maintain this and to hear how they will continue to strive to make further improvements in their children’s social services.

I would like to put on record my thanks to the Chief Inspector and all of his staff who have worked with the authorities through the protocol to help them focus on what they need to do to improve their services.