South Wales Evening Post - 7 August 2007
Swansea Council's cabinet member for social services has come under pressure from opposition parties over a critical review of the way services are being run.
Councillor Wendy Fitzgerald was asked to accept political responsibility for the findings of the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) report.
It found "serious concerns" with core areas of the child and family services.Councillor Fitzgerald was repeatedly asked to consider her position as a cabinet member. But she refused, insisting she was not responsible for the day-to-day running of the department, and relied on the expertise of her senior managers.
She said: "My responsibility is to stay in post and oversee any changes that we have to make. We will come out of this with a much more solid base for children's services."
A report into the service in 2004 put the county at the top of the Welsh league for the way it deals with at-risk children. However, the latest report from the CSSIW puts Swansea in the bottom three.
Councillor Fitzgerald admitted the earlier review of Swansea's children's services was better than other councils', but insisted it was not a glowing report. She said the problems were mainly down to recruitment and retention of staff.
She added that there had been issues in 2004, saying: "Our position is not as good as it should be, but the difficulties we have now have existed for a long time. "
However, the Joint Review of 2004 praised the way the child protection service was run.
It said: "The service is characterised by sound prioritisation, quick and effective responses in most cases, and a wide range of imaginative and flexible services.
"There is good management and leadership, high levels of staff commitment and a sound emphasis on partnership working."
Opposition councillors said Councillor Fitzgerald should have accepted responsibility for the change in fortunes in the service.
Referring to the murder of baby Aaron Gilbert, who was killed by his mother's partner, Labour group leader David Phillips, said: "Since that report, a child has died and parts of social services are among the worst in Wales."
Independent councillor Ray Welsby has also sent a letter to the council's acting leader, Gerald Clement.
He said: "My main concern relates to Councillor Fitzgerald's statement that she 'refused to accept responsibility for the serious concerns raised in the CCSIW report' and the fact that she stated, in public, that the responsibility for such damning comments must be met by her departmental officers. I totally disagree."
