News

The Children's Commissioner for Wales has announced a far-reaching review of arrangements to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of young people in Wales, writes Alex Dobson.

During a speech to the all Wales social services conference in Swansea, Peter Clarke outlined plans that will include setting up an advocacy, whistleblowing and complaints procedure in every social services department in the principality.

He told delegates at the conference that social services departments played a key role in the lives of the most vulnerable children. They had the ability to have a positive impact on children and young people's lives, including opening up a range of educational and social opportunities to help young people realise their potential.

But he said that there was an undoubted need for a national advocacy, whistleblowing and complaints procedure and stressed the importance of giving children a role in shaping the services and structures.

"I hope that the report of this review will be an invaluable policy-making tool, helping to shape the future of children's services in Wales, and making the ambitious goals of those working within those departments achievable," he said.

Delegates heard that children and young people would be involved in both the design and the evaluation of the mapping exercise.

Clarke told the conference that he intends to publish his report in February next year, and it would be followed by a full evaluation of services in 2003-4.