The Social Care & Tackling Poverty Service Transformation Committee met on Monday 24 February 2025. The committee discussed placement sufficiency and sustainability, and the council's work plan.

Placement Sufficiency and Sustainability

The committee received an update on placement sufficiency and sustainability within Child and Family Services, focusing on the provision of fostering, residential, and supported accommodation for children in care. This report outlined the council's duties under the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 to ensure sufficient accommodation is available locally and meets the needs of children. A significant aspect of the discussion was the impact of the Welsh Government's Health and Social Care Bill, which aims to eliminate profit from children's care services by transitioning to a not-for-profit model by April 2027.

Julie Davies, Head of Child & Family Services, explained that this strategy reflects the Welsh Government's programme for change and the challenges and priorities for the next four years. Chris Griffiths, PO - Residential Support and Commissioning, detailed the current arrangements, highlighting that the number of children in care has decreased since 2020, with a slight increase this year. As of March 2024, there were 225 foster carers in Swansea. The report also noted a decrease in connected carers (relatives or friends caring for children) from 126 in 2023 to 93 in 2024. For residential care, 33 children were in commissioned residential care and four in-house.

The council's commissioning intentions aim to ensure children live in family settings where possible, with a focus on maintaining local placements and supporting transitions to independence. By 2027-28, the goal is to have sufficient high-quality placements and support for young people, preventing homelessness. To meet increased demand, Swansea plans to recruit 60 foster carers over the next three years and expand in-house residential care to 25 beds within four years, focusing on relational and therapeutic care models.

Councillor Mandy Evans, Chair of the committee, noted the importance of this report and its connection to early help and prevention work. Councillor Louise Gibbard emphasised the need for a robust strategy to deal with increasing and complex demands, particularly in light of the Welsh Government's Eliminate Agenda.

Councillor Lesley Walton expressed pleasure that children and young people's voices were guiding the approach and that placing children outside the area was a last resort. Julie Davies confirmed that fewer children are now placed in England and outside of Swansea, with most being placed within the local authority boundary or in neighbouring authorities like Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend.

Councillor Patience Bentu inquired about a prevention strategy, and Amy Hawkins, Director of Social Services, explained that the council's target operating model focuses on prevention and early intervention. A document, previously known as the Safe Lack Reduction Strategy, articulates how services support children and families to remain together.

Concerns were raised about the recruitment of foster carers, with Councillor Bentu asking about new strategies. The team has reviewed its approach in line with the national Foster Wales plan, implementing targeted campaigns and a dedicated Facebook page, which has seen increased engagement and inquiries.

Councillor Ceri Evans raised financial concerns regarding the reduction of external foster care as a saving measure. The report indicated that this aligns with the strategy to increase in-house foster carers, but acknowledged that recruitment challenges could impact this goal. The committee noted that clarity on funding streams from Welsh Government beyond the current programme is still awaited.

Councillor Harry asked about the reduction in connected carers, and it was explained that this is primarily due to carers obtaining special guardianship orders, meaning they are no longer classified as connected carers.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the experiences of foster and kinship carers. Councillor Evans shared insights from her time on the foster panel, highlighting the importance of adequately preparing carers for the emotional and practical impact of trauma that children may bring. She stressed the need for a whole story approach in training and support, ensuring carers understand the full implications of taking a child into their home. She also emphasised the vital, yet often under-recognised, role of kinship carers, advocating for equitable support and recognition for those who care for family members.

Amy Hawkins responded by detailing the introduction of new roles to provide in-home support for both foster and kinship carers, the establishment of support groups, and ongoing reviews of financial policies. A celebration event for carers was also mentioned as a positive initiative.

Councillor Lesley Walton reiterated the importance of listening to young people's voices to inform potential foster carers about their experiences.

Work Plan 2024-2025

The committee discussed the work plan for the upcoming year. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 April 2025, and will be held online. It was confirmed that a report on substance misuse, originally planned for the April meeting, would be delayed until May or June due to necessary reviews by other boards. The annual report for 2024-2025 will be presented by Simon Jones. Amy Hawkins proposed adding more detailed updates on specific areas, such as the poverty truth commission and adult services early help, to the annual report.