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Agencies in Pembrokeshire have not always worked effectively to protect children from abuse by professionals, and improvements are needed, a joint inspectorate report published yesterday has found.

The report, Joint inspectorates’ review of inter-agency arrangements and practice to safeguard and protect children in Pembrokeshire reveals a lack of strategic leadership, which contributed to a collective culture in which it was difficult for any of the individual agencies involved to discharge their responsibilities for safeguarding and protecting children, where they are at risk from professionals.

The joint review was carried out by five inspectorates – Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW), Estyn (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales), and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP).

Following the publication of a CSSIW and Estyn joint investigation in August, which raised questions about the quality of joint working to safeguard and protect children in education services, Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Children and Social Services, instigated a joint review of the contribution of all statutory agencies in Pembrokeshire to protecting children. The review focused on allegations of abuse or cause of concern about persons who work with children, also known as professional abuse.

The joint review, published yesterday, found that every agency delivering services to children and young people needs to improve their management arrangements in response to all allegations of professional abuse.

The inspectors consider the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB), working in a more improved and effective way, has a crucial role in providing the leadership, vision, plans and oversight to achieve this.

Speaking on behalf of the five inspectorates, Imelda Richardson, Chief Inspector, CSSIW said: “The inspection found that generally, the multi-agency response to allegations of professional abuse was not sufficiently child focused, and we have identified several key improvements that are necessary. This confirms the findings in the earlier joint investigation report by CSSIW and Estyn in relation to handling allegations of abuse against staff in education. Inspectors did note some positive factors – most notably a willingness to work together between some experienced and committed individual practitioners and professionals. They need the support and commitment of the leadership of their organisations, and the Pembrokeshire LSCB, if safeguarding arrangements for children in Pembrokeshire is to improve.”

A copy of the report is published on the CSSIW website

ENDS

No further statements, or interviews will be given.

General enquiries – Tracy Goode Communications Manager, CSSIW tracy.goode@wales.gsi.gov.uk 0300 0628800 / 0300 0628842
Notes to Editors

Professional Abuse – Allegations of Abuse or cause of concern about a person who works with children.

On August 11 Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and Estyn, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales published a joint report entitled ‘Joint investigation into the handling and management of allegations of professional abuse and the arrangements for safeguarding and protecting children in education services in Pembrokeshire County Council’.

This report details the investigation into allegations of professional abuse and the arrangements for safeguarding and protecting children in education services in Pembrokeshire County Council.

http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/publications/ourfindings/pembrokeshire/pemb/?lang=en

About the joint Inspectorates

CSSIW

Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) encourages the improvement of social care, early years and social services by regulating, inspecting, reviewing and providing professional advice to Ministers and policy makers. We carry out our functions on behalf of Welsh Ministers, and although we are part of the Local Government and Communities Directorate within Welsh Government, there are a number of safeguards in place to ensure our operational independence. Our Vision and Values are geared towards ensuring that service users’ experiences are at the heart of our work. Our duty is to assure the citizens of Wales of the quality and safety of social care services through our inspections. The responsibility for improving services rests with those who commission and deliver them within the requirements of the legislation and government policy. CSSIW inspections provide accountability for the public and learning for stakeholders through exemplars and sustained service improvements.

For further information please visit our website www.cssiw.org.uk

Estyn

Estyn is the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales. Our aim is to achieve excellence for all in learning in Wales. We do this by providing an independent, high-quality inspection and advice service. Our vision is to be recognised through the expertise of our staff as an authoritative voice on learning in Wales. We are independent from, but funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (under Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 1998).

For further information please visit our website www.estyn.gov.uk

HIW

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales is the independent inspectorate and regulator of all healthcare in Wales. HIW’s primary focus is on:

Making a significant contribution to improving the safety and quality of healthcare services in Wales.

• Improving citizens’ experience of healthcare in Wales whether as a patient, service user, carer, relative or employee.

• Strengthening the voice of patients and the public in the way health services are reviewed.

• Ensuring that timely, useful, accessible and relevant information about the safety and quality of healthcare in Wales is made available to all

For further information please visit our website www.hiw.org.uk

HM Inspectorate of Probation

HM Inspectorate of Probation is an independent inspectorate, funded by the Ministry of Justice, and reporting directly to the Secretary of State on the effectiveness of work with individual offenders, children and young people aimed at reducing reoffending and protecting the public.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) is an independent inspectorate, inspecting policing in the public interest, and rigorously examines the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces and authorities to tackle crime and terrorism, improve criminal justice and raise confidence. HMIC inspects and regulates all 43 police forces in England and Wales together with other major policing bodies.

For more information please visit our website www.hmic.gov.uk