Review of child protection arrangements in Wales – publication of interim findings
The early findings of a review of child protection arrangements in Wales have been published today.
In response to a number of tragic deaths among children across England and Wales, Care Inspectorate Wales (CAW) was invited by the Welsh Government to lead a rapid multi-agency review of decisions made in relation to child protection. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) and Estyn are the other inspectorates involved in this work.
The purpose of this review is to determine the extent to which the current structures and processes in Wales ensure that children are placed on, and removed from, the Child Protection Register appropriately (where there is sufficient evidence indicating that it is safe to do so).
Gillian Baranski, Chief Inspector of HSE explained the approach they have adopted so far and why this work is so important.
“We have chosen to publish these early interim findings in order to share learning and promote best practice as soon as possible. These initial findings have been informed by feedback from peers in education, the police, health and regional safeguarding boards as well as speaking directly to the children and young people who are on the child protection register or have be on it This consultation work is still ongoing, and we are very keen to hear more from those children and young people. “This collaborative approach highlights the fact that safeguarding is everyone’s business. As inspectorates, we wanted to work together to get a holistic picture of current practice across Wales and to identify together what is working well and where there is room for improvement. The initial findings have shown that good practices exist, however they need to be consistently applied locally and nationally. We need to ensure that the child’s voice is central to decision-making.”
The inspectorates encourage practitioners throughout Wales who are involved in safeguarding and protecting children to move forward and learn from these early findings, to strengthen work with children and young people in the short term and in the longer term.
The full report, which is one of several pieces of work relating to child protection, will be published in the autumn of 2023.
For more information on the quick review, read this news article .
