14/10/22

Cardiff's Social Services have been able to make significant progress, despite a continuing increase in both the numbers of people needing support in the city and the complexity of the issues that they are facing.

The Local Authority Social Services Report 2021/22 draws focus to a wide range of work being done across Adult and Children Services. The report includes the results of the regional market stability report which provides information to support the identification of priorities for the coming year & the impact of the increase in service demand to date.

Highlights from Adult Services include:

• Strengthening our Independent Living Services.
• World Health Organisation (WHO) Age Friendly City Network acceptance.
• Ageing Well Strategy developed.
• Re-opening of Day Centres.
• Development of the Cardiff Cares Academy

Cabinet Member for Social Services (Adults), Cllr Norma Mackiesaid: "Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the pace of implementation for our objectives, it has also provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to modernise our way of working and our recovery plans embrace the potential presented by the rapid deployment of digital technology, helping to ensure that citizens are offered the most efficient, effective and responsive services we can provide.

"This report sets out the progress that has been made such as the introduction of the Ageing Well Strategy and highlights an incredible 39,786 contacts with an answer rate of 96% that have been managed by the Adult Services First Point of Contact team.

"The priorities for the coming year are shown in the report Social Services as a whole, with partnership working and co-production being our underlying key principles. I would like to take this opportunity to give my sincere thanks to all our partners - statutory, third sector and volunteers, and also all the Council staff who have worked incredibly hard throughout the year. Their continued dedication, patience and professionalism greatly contributes to ensuring better outcomes for those who need our help most."

Highlights from Children's Services include:

• Launch of the Intervention and Reviewing Hub.
• Family Drug and Alcohol pilot began.
• Implementation of Youth Justice improvement plan.
• Increasing use of kinship arrangements to keep children and young people closer to home

Cabinet Member for Social Services (Children), Cllr Ash Lister said: "This report covers the achievements of social care services in Cardiff in what has been another extraordinary year. We continue to rebalance our pressures through improving preventative services and delivering our statutory duties in an ever-changing time.

"The report captures the improvements made to the Youth Justice Service and also draws

attention to almost 47,500 new contacts responded to by Children's services.I've seen first-hand the enthusiasm and passion of our social services staff and want to thank them for their incredibly hard work and for continuing to help make Cardiff a Child Friendly City."

The report also highlights the progress made to raise awareness of safeguarding across the Local Authority, ensuring that 'safeguarding is everyone's business', and outlines how partnership working is a key priority across all services, providing integrated support and interventions so that outcomes can be improved. 

If you need support from Cardiff Social Services please visit Social Services and wellbeing (cardiff.gov.uk)