Children’s services expert team welcomed by council

THE appointment of a team of experts to oversee Swansea Council’s failing children’s services has been welcomed by the authority.

Assembly Deputy Minister for Health Gwenda Thomas announced the make-up of the hit squad this week, following a decision to create the intervention board last month.

The board is to be chaired by Judge Graham Thomas, and includes Nigel Richardson, who worked on the Victoria Climbie inquiry panel, and the first head of children’s services for Neath Port Talbot, Raymond Ciborowski.

The department’s new head, councillor Nick Tregoning, said:

“Our priority is to ensure vulnerable children are safe, and that they and their families receive the most appropriate support from us.

“The council sees the arrival of the intervention board as a crucial step towards ensuring the pace of change is improved and embedded within the service.

“That’s why we are welcoming the opportunity to develop our draft action plan in consultation with the intervention board.”

The board was appointed following a critical report of the department by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.