A REPORT to Blaenau Gwent council following a social services inspection has revealed young people's unhappiness about social workers missing appointments and poor time keeping.

The report, from the corporate director of social services, said the Children's Services department has launched an action plan to deal with the recommendations following an inspection by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.

Between January and May last year the inspector from CSSIW spent three and a half days with the council to review the "safeguarding and care planning of looked after children and care leavers who exhibit vulnerable or risky behaviours".

The local inspection, which also accompanied a national inspection, focused on 14 cases of looked after children aged 11 and over in Blaenau Gwent.

Now Social Services has compiled a report which will be considered by the council's social services and active living scrutiny committee on Thursday, April 16. It outlines the results of the inspection and how Blaenau Gwent council is proposing to make changes.

The inspection highlighted a delay in accessing specialist services for one young person as well as revealing young people said they were unhappy with their social workers, decisions made in relation to them, and frequent changes of social workers.

The report said Blaenau Gwent council is now providing refresher training for all staff, has re-established a Corporate Parenting Board and has told staff of action they must take if they need to cancel appointments or are running late.

But the inspection did highlight that child protection procedures were being used to manage risk for young people.

Tanya Evans, head of Children's Services and the report's author, said: "Children’s Services have welcomed the national and local inspection reports from the CSSIW. Both reports have given rise to the action plan.

"This action plan has been in place for a while with progress already being made on certain areas. We currently have a very dedicated stable workforce which places us in a strong position to develop the improvements required."

The scrutiny committee will consider the report and decide whether they are satisfied with the action plan.