Cross Party Group Annual Report 2023

Children in our Care

Chair: Jane Dodds MS

Other MS Members:

· Heledd Fychan MS

· Mike Hedges MS

· Mark Isherwood MS

· Peredur Owen Griffiths MS

· Jenny Rathbone MS

· Jack Sargeant MS

· Sioned Williams MS

Secretary: Helen Mary Jones, Voices from Care Cymru

Other external members:

· Elinor Crouch-Puzey - NSPCC

· Sarah Durrant - TGP Cymru

· Allison Hulmes - British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Cymru

· Deborah Jones - Voices from Care

· Helen Mary Jones - Youth Cymru

· Sharon Lovell - National Youth Advocacy Services Cymru

· Brendan Roberts - DWP/Care Experienced Young Person

Previous meetings

22.05.2022
Attendees	Rhys Taylor Alex Williamson (Wave Trust) Claire Andrews Danny Grehan (Support Staff) Hannah Williams Helen Mary Jones Altaf Hussain MS Kate Aubrey Cllr Ash Lister Lorna Stabler Neil Davies Rachel Thomas Kirsty Rees (Support Staff) Sarah Durrant Sarah Thomas Sharon Lovell Sian Thomas (Support Staff) Tom Davies Veronkia Prikrylova
Apologies	Llyr Gruffudd MS Peredur Owen Griffiths MS Malcolm Williams, Social Care Wales
Summary	Priorities for the CPG including a review of the proposed Terms of Reference. CASCADE research associate, Lorna Stabler from Cardiff University presented her findings on the life cycle of children in social care with a particular focus on the ‘When I Am Ready’ scheme (2016).

23.11.2022
Attendees
Apologies
Summary	Presentation and discussion on the National Approach to Statutory Advocacy and Active Offer of Advocacy.

01.02.2023
Attendees	Jane Dodds MS Sioned Williams MS Heledd Fychan MS Mike Hedges MS Jenny Rathbone MS Sarah Murphy MS Rhys Taylor Staff of Jane Dodds MS Shannon Orritt Staff of Mabon ap Gwynfor MS Andrew Jenkins Staff of Sioned Williams MS Eleri Griffiths Staff of Heledd Fychan Ken Moon Staff of Heledd Fychan Ioan Bellin Staff of Rhys ab Owen Ryland Doyle Staff of Mike Hedges MS Alex Hughes-Howells Staff of Peredur Owen Griffiths Gareth Llewellyn Staff of Peredur Owen Griffiths Owen Evans Children in Wales Louise O’Neill Children in Wales Helena Molloy Children in Wales Helen Mary Jones Consultant, Voices From Care Cymru Deborah Jones Voices from Care Sally Holland Children’s Commissioner for Wales Chloe Gallagher Children’s Commissioner’s Office Sharon Lovell NYAS Cymru Patrick Thomas Children in Wales Trustee Mike Greenaway Play Wales Izzabella James Home Start Cymru Rachel Thomas Children’s Commissioner’s Office Peter Jones Guide Dogs Cymru Sarah Durrant TGP Cymru Elinor Crouch-Puzey NSPCC Cymru Amy Bainton Barnardo’s Cymru Viv Laing NSPCC Cymru Brendan Roberts DWP/Care Experienced Young Person Rebecca Millar Care for the Family
Apologies	Mark Isherwood MS Llyr Gruffydd MS Jack Sergeant MS Joyce Watson MS Peredur Owen Griffiths MS Laura Anne Jones MS Dave Williams, Chair, Children in Wales Gethin Matthews-Jones, RCPCH Tracey Holdsworth, NSPCC Cymru Suzanne Griffiths, National Adoption Service for Wales
Summary	Workshop discussion and presentation on the National Approach to Statutory Advocacy and Active Offer of Advocacy and where rights and the officer could be strengthened and improved.

29.03.2023
Attendees
Apologies
Summary	Discussion with the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the Group’s conclusions about the need for and scope of a possible review of the Statutory Advocacy and Active Offer.

14.06.2023
Attendees
Apologies	Llyr Gruffudd MS Sian Gwenllian MS Sarah Thomas, Fostering Network Hannah Williams, Social Care Wales Kathryn Morgan, HomeShare UK Heledd Fychan MS
Summary	Discussion on Unregulated Placements, focusing on Recommendations 18 and 19 of the Children, Young People and Education Committee’s Report ‘If not now, when? Radical reform for care experienced children and young people’.

23.10.2023
Attendees
Apologies
Summary	Workshop on ideas for a new Children’s Act in Wales and what that might look like, how to move forward with ideas and priorities for the Cross-Party Group for this Senedd year.

12.12.2023
Attendees	Jane Dodds MS  Helen Mary Jones, Voices From Care Cymru Phoebe Jenkin,s Researcher, Jane Dodds Office Rhys Taylor, Senior Advisor, Jane Dodds Office Freya Reynolds-Feeney, Children’s Commissioner Office Elizabeth Bryan,                Fostering Network Sharon Lovell, NYAS Sian Thomas, Senedd Research Shaun Bendle, Llamau Beth Gallivan, Llamau Jennie Bibbings, Senedd Research Ann Bell, Adoption UK Tiff         Sarah Durrant, TGP Cymru Elizabeth Bryan, Fostering Network
Apologies	Mark Isherwood MS Jack Sargeant MS Sarah Murphy MS Sioned Williams MS
Summary	The meeting started with an introduction from Jane Dodds MS as Chair, and Helen Mary Jones as Secretariat, followed by an outline of todays meeting. The meeting started with the AGM; Annual Report was circulated. Jane Dodds MS elected as Chair, Vice Chair will be appointed in a following meeting, and  Helen Mary Jones, Voices From Care Cymru was appointed Secretariat (pending approval by committee at the next meeting).  Presentations about the White Paper on homelessness and it’s implications on care experienced children were given by Sharon Lovell and Shaun Bendle and Bethan Galivan. Discussion followed and actions moving forward were decided. Research about Children’s Commissioners and how they are appointed, compared to Wales, was discussed as well as actions moving forward. One item discussed under any other business around DOLLS cases in courts, with actions assigned. Minutes from the meeting have been approved by Jane, subject to committee approval at next meeting. Next meeting on February 21^st 10:30-11:30.

Professional lobbyists, voluntary organisations and charities with whom the Group has met during the preceding year.

The Group has not met with any professional lobbyists during the year. The Group meetings are attended by representatives of several organisations and charities. The details of attendees for each meeting are listed above.

The following organisations were invited to give presentations to the Group:

· TGP Cymru

· NYAS Cymru

· CASCADE, Cardiff University

Annual Financial Statement

The group has not incurred any costs, benefits, nor services provided such as hospitality.

Jane Dodds MS/AS

Mid and West Wales/Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru