Joint report published between CSSIW and South Wales Police on child sexual exploitation and multi-agency working

The inspectorate and the police service hosted a joint summit in May looking at the issue.
 
Today’s report – which pulled together feedback and discussion from the joint summit – found there is often a lack of detailed and relevant information on children placed out of area made available to host local authority, children’s homes, police and other agencies by the placing authority. This is particularly relevant if children go missing.  
 
A lack of appropriate placements for children with complex needs is resulting in a lack of genuine choice. This impacts the suitability of some placements made.  
 
Placements that cannot adequately respond to children’s needs will most likely result in poor outcomes for children.
 
There was a clear message that children’s homes need to provide a caring and stable environment, with considerable focus on value based management and excellent trained staff.
 
All bodies involved still need to do more to involve children and young people meaningfully in their care planning.
 
The joint summit was attended by 120 professionals, including residential care providers, representatives of Welsh police forces, local authorities, Welsh Government, the office of the Children’s Commissioner, CSSIW and the third sector.
 
In the lead-up to the summit, South Wales Police voiced increasing concern at the frequency with which they are attending residential homes to deal with children going missing and incidents of aggression and criminal damage.
 
Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) has become increasingly concerned at the high levels of notifications about the behaviour of children and their vulnerability when away from the children’s home.  
 
Inspections of children’s homes often highlight the impact on children of high rates of staff turnover and the difficulties of achieving the required level of qualified staff. 
 
Inspectors are also aware of children being placed without statutory and therapeutic services agreed.
 
This summit formed part of CSSIW’s response to the recommendations of the report of the Children’s Commissioner ‘The Right Care’ (June 2016).  
 
Read the full report here. 
 

Adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd ar y cyd gan AGGCC a Heddlu De Cymru ar gam-fanteisio’n rhywiol ar blant a gwaith amlasiantaeth
 
Cynhaliodd yr arolygiaeth a’r heddlu gynhadledd ar y cyd ym mis Mai yn ystyried y mater hwn.

Dangosodd yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd heddiw – a ddygodd ynghyd adborth a thrafodaethau o’r gynhadledd ar y cyd – fod diffyg gwybodaeth fanwl a pherthnasol yn aml ar gyfer plant sydd wedi’u lleoli y tu allan i’r ardal ar gael i’r awdurdod lleol sy’n derbyn, cartrefi plant, yr heddlu ac asiantaethau eraill gan yr awdurdod sy’n lleoli. Mae hyn yn arbennig o berthnasol os yw plant yn mynd ar goll.
 
Mae diffyg lleoliadau priodol i blant ag anghenion cymhleth yn arwain at ddiffyg dewis gwirioneddol. Mae hyn yn effeithio ar addasrwydd rhai lleoliadau a wneir.
 
Bydd lleoliadau na allant ymateb yn ddigonol i anghenion plant yn fwy na thebyg yn arwain at ganlyniadau gwael i’r plant.
 
Roedd neges glir bod angen i gartrefi plant ddarparu amgylchedd gofalgar a sefydlog, gyda chryn ganolbwyntio ar reoli yn seiliedig ar werthoedd a staff sydd wedi’u hyfforddi’n ardderchog.
 
Mae angen yr holl gyrff sydd ynghlwm wneud mwy o hyd i gynnwys plant a phobl ifanc mewn modd ystyrlon wrth gynllunio eu gofal.
 
Roedd 120 o weithwyr proffesiynol yn bresennol yn y gynhadledd ar y cyd, gan gynnwys darparwyr gofal preswyl a chynrychiolwyr o heddluoedd Cymru, awdurdodau lleol, Llywodraeth Cymru, swyddfa’r Comisiynydd Plant, AGGCC a’r trydydd sector.
 
Cyn y gynhadledd, mynegodd Heddlu De Cymru bryder cynyddol ynghylch pa mor aml y maent yn ymweld â chartrefi preswyl i ymdrin â phlant ar goll a digwyddiadau o ymddygiad ymosodol a difrod troseddol.
 
Mae Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru (AGGCC) yn gynyddol bryderus ynghylch y nifer uchel o hysbysiadau ynghylch ymddygiad plant a pha mor agored ydynt i niwed pan nad ydynt yn y cartref plant.
 
Mae arolygiadau o gartrefi plant yn aml yn nodi effaith lefelau uchel o drosiant staff ar blant, a’r anawsterau o ran cael staff sydd wedi eu cymhwyso i’r lefel ofynnol.
 
Mae’r arolygwyr hefyd yn ymwybodol o blant yn cael eu lleoli heb gytuno ar wasanaethau statudol a therapiwtig. 
 
Roedd y gynhadledd yn rhan o ymateb AGGCC i argymhellion adroddiad y Comisiynydd Plant ‘Y Gofal Cywir’ (Mehefin 2016).

Darllenwch yr adroddiad llawn yma.