Cabinet approves strategic plan for children’s social care in Bridgend

Bridgend County Borough Council’s cabinet have approved a three-year strategic plan for children’s social care in Bridgend.

The plan sets out the purpose of children’s social care in the county borough and emphasises the importance of culture, behaviour, and values in delivering that purpose. The purpose in the plan is:

Working together to enable better outcomes for children, young people and their families via strong relationships, effective practice and timely and responsive services, which support children and families to live together (wherever possible) work on difficulties and safeguard children from harm’

The strategic plan sets actions for the next three years. As well as detailing the actions required, the plan also indicates the measures that will be used to understand progress. The priorities within the plan are:

• A stable, well- supported, motivated permanent workforce
• Strength based, social work practice which supports children and families to stay together (wherever possible) and safeguards children from harm
• Evidence based services and interventions
• Seamless partnership working at an operational and strategic level
• Listening to acting on the voice of children and families

The plan will address some of the significant issues facing our most vulnerable children and families and the services that safeguard and support them.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the children’s social care service is starting to become evident in Bridgend.

In December 2021, there was a 40 per cent increase in contacts into children’s social care compared to January 2021 when the country was in lockdown. Quality assurance work has also highlighted an increased complexity in the issues which children and families are presenting to children’s social care.

Children’s social care services in Bridgend are fundamental in delivering the council’s duties to safeguard, protect and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable children in the county borough.

This plan will be vital to ensuring that the service continues to deliver support to children, young people and their families effectively, and will also indicate measure that will help us to progress and improve the service where necessary.

It is also important to note that we are experiencing challenges in the retention and recruitment of children’s social workers. This plan sets out an ambition, and set of actions to achieve a permanent, well-supported, well-motivate workforce and I would encourage anyone interested in working in the sector to get involved.

Councillor Jane Gebbie, Cabinet Member for Social Services and Early Help

A social care event is being held on 18 February in Bridgend town centre where representatives from the local authority’s recruitment team, Adult and Children’s social services and Employability Bridgend will be on hand to support you with information on opportunities in social care

There is no need to book and enquiries from non-drivers are also welcomed. If you can’t join us on the day, you can email us at recruitment@bridgend.gov.uk or visit the website.

A full list of social care vacancies at Bridgend County Borough Council can be found on the local authority’s website.