Swansea’s child services can still ‘do better’

CHILD protection in Swansea has improved — but still has a very long way to go. That was the verdict from the Assembly Government’s director of social services, Graham Williams, as a review of children’s social services in the city was formally presented to councillors last night.

The study, by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, has been published weeks after it was announced that an Assembly team is to be parachuted in to the authority to oversee improvements to social services.

The review follows the death of Townhill baby Aaron Gilbert in 2005, who died from injuries inflicted by his mother’s boyfriend, Andrew Lloyd.

Mr Williams told councillors, at the specially convened meeting at the Civic Centre, that it was clear improvements had been made, but they were not significant enough between the 2007 and 2008 inspections.

Speaking on behalf of Welsh Deputy Social Services Minister Gwenda Thomas, he said: “Gwenda Thomas recognises some improvements have been made but they were inconsistent and patchy. She has still concluded children are not well-served.”