Blaenau Gwent’s Children Looked After strategy (CLA) to safely reduce the numbers of children needing care was implemented in 2017, this was in response to the rising number of children entering the care systems at that time.
This initial approach was evaluated, revised and relaunched as a five-year strategy in 2020.
Recent feedback from the Care Inspectorate for Wales has highlighted the Blaenau Gwent strategy to be proving highly effective in gradually and safely reducing numbers of children who come into care. This is happening just as many other authorities continue to experience an increase and the Blaenau Gwent approach has bucked the upward trend.
Cllr John Mason, Executive Member for Social Services said:
“It is great to see that our Safe Reduction of CLA Strategy has been positively acknowledged by the Care Inspectorate for Wales, this is praise indeed. It is encouraging to see the progress this approach has made in reducing the number of children entering the care system.”
The strategy focuses on prevention, confident risk management and high quality placement options and has become embedded practice throughout the whole division. The dedication and engagement of the workforce has also been cited as key component of success.