Local authorities in south Wales are to develop a regional approach to direct payments, fostering services and residential care for looked-after children.
The South East Wales Improvement Collaborative, which involves 10 councils will initially work on six projects. Each will be led by a director from one of the 10 councils, while council chief executives will sit on a partnership board.
One of the projects will develop an independent foster agency for the M4 corridor in Wales, while others will pilot a system for finding foster carers and residential places for children in care, and for improving the take-up of direct payments.
The councils will also team up to draft policy on new government legislation and pool specialist legal support for children’s services.
The collaborative was developed following a meeting a year ago between social services leaders and Welsh assembly government officials, where it was decided that more cross-authority working was needed.
Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taf are among the authorities involved.
Welsh councils look to pool services
November 16, 2005 in Looked after children, Workforce
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