Cardiff wants help from commissioner

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales is to be asked to join a
special forum that will look at ways to improve Cardiff social
services following a joint review that placed the department among
the three worst in the UK.

The leader of the council, Russell Goodway, has written to Welsh
assembly social services minister Jane Hutt to enlist the help of
commissioner Peter Clarke.

In his letter, Goodway also expresses concern that Hutt has not
allowed experienced officials from the assembly to assist the
council to tackle the raft of problems identified within social
services in Cardiff.

The minister said that assembly officials would provide advice and
support as appropriate, but that the council needed to drive
forward the necessary changes.

The commissioner said that he had not yet received any formal
request from the council and would only be able to assist as an
observer.