Huw Irranca-Davies: Suzy, I thank you for that question, and I've not had raised with me at this moment any concerns from officials that there is any lack of capacity, but I'll certainly take that back and explore it further. I know the point that underpins the new process that we have in front of us, subject to these statutory instruments being passed today, is actually to produce that more friendly online...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank you once again, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'd like to begin my contribution to this debate as Minister for children by paying tribute to the work of the former Cabinet Secretary, Carl Sargeant. Carl was passionately committed to improving life for children and young people across Wales, determined to make a positive difference to their well-being and their prospects for the future. He realised the devastating impact of adverse...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I look forward to speaking to the children's commissioner, to practitioners working with children and, most importantly, to children and young people about how we achieve that. Thank you very much.
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you all very much. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer.
Huw Irranca-Davies: I'm delighted to respond to this debate. There's only one thing I'm sure of already—I don't think I'll be able to respond to every single point that's been raised in the time available, but I will try and do my best. Can I first of all just thank everybody for their kind words and comments about Carl Sargeant and the legacy that he leaves in this field? It's been remarked upon several times...
Huw Irranca-Davies: If I could turn to the issues in, probably, the minute or so remaining, Hefin raised the issue of whether we'd continue to have dialogue with the children's commissioner on issues such as universal childcare, flexibility of Flying Start, ACEs and so on—absolutely right in saying that ACEs are not the be-all and end-all, some sort of hard-nosed, crude analytical tool: they need to be used to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you for the question. We have, as Neil will know, prioritised social care as a sector of strategic national importance, and the commitment is being underpinned by extra funding: a total of £55 million of recurrent additional funding has been provided to local authorities for use in social services in 2017-18, and we're also, of course, committed to doubling the capital people can keep...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Neil raises an important point here, and we firmly believe that Ceredigion County Council, like any other council, has to adequately plan its care provision based on local needs and deal with the issues that have been raised. Now, I do appreciate, and we should all be aware, that this has been a difficult time for all concerned, not least the residents, and the safety and well-being of...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you for that question. You rightly raised the issue of sparsity and the challenges of providing any public services, let alone children's social care and adult social care, across a region such as that, but, of course, it doesn't detract from the necessity to make sure that every individual, regardless of the rural nature of that constituency, is properly cared for. I mentioned in my...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Simon, you've got my undertaking that all that I can share with Members of the Assembly, I will. First of all, it needs to go to CSSIW for their consideration. I'll need to see it first as well, but in the interest of transparency, I will be keen to make sure that everything that I can share with Assembly Members is shared because it's also important, in doing that, that we can give assurance...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Well, thank you for that question. Can I say, first of all, the individual items of that case, if you want to bring them to my attention, either write to me, or, if you want to meet with me, I'm more than happy to discuss them, and see what can be done in that individual case? One of the biggest factors in front of us is the issue of delayed transfers of care, of course. I don't know whether...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Well, again, I thank you for that further question. And it is a real issue, and it's an issue that we're investing both expertise and competence but also funding in, and working with health boards and local authorities on the ground. We have seen an increase in the August period, and it's an increase that we hadn't seen in the previous 18 months. And two of those areas were ABMU—Abertawe...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Thank you, again, for that supplementary question. And, as we discussed in committee earlier this morning, there is a great deal we can do within existing resources by acting more cleverly. And that includes the use of regional partnership working to jointly commission services, it includes the use of pooled budgets, so that we can share what the priorities are across a region rather than...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I just begin by thanking Llyr for bringing forward this debate today, and also for outlining the challenges ahead, as well as some of the good work that is going on, and putting it forward with calmness and consideration, but also with passion for actually meeting these challenges and seeking improvements within this field? And equally the points raised by my...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Indeed I will give way.
Huw Irranca-Davies: My friend is absolutely right. I think there has been acknowledgement here in the Chamber today of the good work that is going on, but it is not universal. That is the issue that the ministerial advisory group are looking at. This report is a welcome contribution to that. But it is true that we know, actually, what works, and we can see it working, and we funded much of that. We now need to...
Huw Irranca-Davies: Diolch, Llywydd. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to update Members on our collaborative approach to improving outcomes for looked-after children in Wales. It is clear there is consensus among Members from all parties that looked-after children should have the same start in life and opportunities as all children. We clearly state this as our vision and our commitment to looked-after...
Huw Irranca-Davies: To improve outcomes for children already in care, we know that stable placements are crucial for children to feel secure, have a sense of belonging and be able to fulfil their potential. So, we have a three-year joint education and social services plan, entitled 'Raising the ambitions and educational attainment of children who are looked after in Wales'. This plan is supported by £4 million...
Huw Irranca-Davies: I thank David for his comments, not least in respect of our former colleague, Carl, and his work in this area, and many other areas as well. It's right to remark that, often, this area, in the past, has not received the attention it was probably due. It was easily overlooked. The whole issue of children and young people in care settings is so easily overlooked, because it only makes the...
