A review which was commissioned after the deaths of children in Wales, including murdered schoolboy Logan Mwangi, has issued its first findings. It has detailed inconsistencies and variations in child protective services and the focus on significant harm across Wales.
The review follows the deaths of Logan Mwangi, who was found dead in a river in Bridgend in July 2021 after being dumped there by his mother's partner, and Lola James, who was murdered her mother's boyfriend in July 2020. The devastating deaths of the two young children sparked an urgent review into child protection services in Wales.
The purpose of the review is to determine what extent the current structures and processes in Wales ensure that children's names are appropriately placed on, and taken off, the child protection register when sufficient evidence indicates that it is safe to do so.
The team looking into the review is made up of representatives from Care Inspectorate Wales, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Estyn. The findings published on Thursday are part of the interim report while a full report into the review will be published in September 2023.
The review found that in most cases names were appropriately added and then removed from the child protection register. However some evidence of "over-optimism" was identified when progress was made. It was also identified that more focus is required on creating a safety plan if it is decided not to add a child to the register.
One of the points raised in the report is the lack of understanding that partner agencies such as schools have in relation to the "threshold for significant harm". In some situations schools may not fully understand why a referral is accepted.
Summary of the findings:
- The understanding and implementation of thresholds as to whether a child is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, significant harm are mostly good although it's not consistently understood between partner agencies and local authorities in Wales.
Current processes, in line with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, are enabling effective information sharing. However, in practice, this varies across Wales.
Multi-agency arrangements work well in many areas of practice although some areas could be further strengthened.
There is variation across Wales into how well children's lived experience is taken into consideration when making decisions about safety.
A child's right to participate in the process needs to be strengthened.
There is collaborative working across strategic partners but this does not always lead to consistent oversight of frontline practice.
Overall the decision-making process about registration and deregistration is appropriately followed. However practice around assessing and maintaining focus on risk of significant harm varies.
Practitioners’ focus on the risk of significant harm to a child is inconsistent. Independent Reviewing Officers (IRO) have an important role in ensuring that the focus remains on the risk of significant harm to children. They also hold acritical expert role in explaining thresholds.
Tracey Holdsworth, Assistant Director at NSPCC Cymru, said: “It is vital that every child receives the support and protection they need, and no child goes under the radar. And so we greatly welcome this review and the publication of its interim findings, showing both strengths and areas for improvement.
“The report highlights the need for a more consistent approach to child safeguarding across council areas and agencies and that the child’s voice is at times missed from decision making.
“These findings must be acted on without delay, but for this to happen we need to see investment in children’s services and ensure practitioners, who establish if a child is at risk or has experienced significant harm, are supported.”
