So much for scrutiny

You may have missed it among the more vitally topical health-related headlines about body-piercing but another ministerial move announced yesterday involved a almost casual scrapping of the 22 existing Local Safeguarding Children Boards and a move to replace them with six new Safeguarding and Protection Boards, covering both children and adults.

Perhaps ‘announcement’ is an overstatement under the circumstances insofar as a press release was issued but those affected appear to be left guessing over the actual details. To date, there is no reference to an oral or written statement or even a news item on the Welsh Government’s snazzy looking website either.

Having previously blogged on the piss-poor level of accountability exercised over these inter-agency bodies, we find ourselves as unimpressed by this latest reconfiguration attempt as with the earlier stated and [now] contradictory intention to speed up child protection processes under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

Some months ago, the Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee (as was) published its own report into Local Safeguarding Children Boards in Wales. Among the 20 recommendations it contained was one that Welsh Government should issue guidance to “clarify the specific focus of LSCBs and their role in holding other partnerships to account”. It also stated that ministers should address the “differing safeguarding thresholds” applied by agencies throughout 22 local authority areas. A parallel joint review by five government bodies in turn highlighted a need for councils to “show more leadership”, i.e. transparency about shortcomings.

There is serious doubt as to whether these six new organisations will be equipped or capable of delivering a uniform and honest alternative to the discredited current arrangement. Similarly, it seems that the ability of individuals to cloud the various shortcomings of participating agencies with redacted versions of reports and belated regurgitations of the “lessons have been learned” mantra will continue unchecked.

Little wonder then that the announcement went out as and when it did.


Late Update: This appeared the next day.