Swansea Council children’s services team named

A TEAM of experts appointed to ensure a council’s children’s services are successfully overhauled was revealed yesterday.

A 2007 review of the Swansea council department identified “serious concerns” and in March, Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas said the council had “failed to make sufficient progress”.

The new intervention board – the first of its kind established in Wales – will be chaired by a family law expert, Judge Graham Jones.

From 1990 to 1998, he was Designated Family Judge, first at Merthyr Tydfil and then at Cardiff.

He will be joined by Nigel Richardson, who was social care adviser on the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Panel. Mr Richardson was also of director of Children and Young People’s Services for Hull City Council.

Also on the panel is Raymond Ciborowski, a former social worker, who is registrar and head of administration at Swansea University.

He will work alongside Colin Berg, chief executive of Monmouthshire County Council.

A further board member will be Rose Seaborne, former cabinet member for health and social care and wellbeing on Torfaen County Borough Council.

The deputy minister said the board appointed carried the credibility necessary to fulfil its responsibilities.

“However, the responsibility for bringing about the improvements needed is not affected – it remains with the City and County of Swansea.”