Meetings

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

This page gives details of any meetings held which will, or did, discuss the matter, and includes links to the relevant Papers, Agendas and Minutes.

Note: Meeting Agenda can change at short notice. Particularly where future meeting dates are indicated more than a week in advance. Please check before planning to attend a Committee Meeting that the item you are interested in has not been moved.

Meeting: 17/12/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/11/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 06/11/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 23/10/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 08/10/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Minutes:

Members agreed to write jointly with the Equality and Social Justice Committee to the Welsh Government highlighting concerns about deprivation of liberty orders and to seek an update on implementation of the Committee’s recommendations from their inquiry into services for care experienced children.


Meeting: 22/09/2025 - Equality and Social Justice Committee (Item 5)

5 Correspondence from the Children's Legal Centre Wales to the Chair regarding Deprivation of Liberty Orders for children and “If Not Now, Then When? Radical Reform for Care-Experienced Children and Young People” Inquiry recommendations

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Meeting: 21/05/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 21/05/2025 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/06/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/06/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 08/05/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 20/03/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 20/03/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 20/03/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 28/02/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 21/02/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 11/01/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 11/01/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 11/01/2024 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/12/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

6 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 06/12/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 06/12/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 1)

Follow up work from the inquiry into services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

1.1         The Committee considered areas of follow-up work from the care inquiry. It agreed to:

-      conduct an inquiry into “children on the margins” with the first strand focussing on missing and criminally exploited children and young people;

-      to hold a scrutiny session with Social Care Wales;

-      and an annual scrutiny session with Care Inspectorate Wales.

1.2    It also agreed to invite Members of the Health and Social Care Committee to the scrutiny sessions with Social Care Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales.


Meeting: 29/11/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 8)

8 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 23/11/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of relevant correspondence

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee considered the correspondence and agreed to write to the Deputy Minister for Social Services.


Meeting: 16/11/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 25/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 25/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 25/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 12/10/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - Ministerial scrutiny session

Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Albert Heaney, Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, Welsh Government

Alistair Davey, Deputy Director, Enabling People, Social Services and Integration Directorate, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Deputy Minister for Social Services.

2.2 The Deputy Minister agreed to provide the following;

- further information on the radical developments taking place including the four draft standards that have been produced;

- clarity on the percentage of children’s services staff in Wales who are agency workers;

- when available, feedback from the independent review into parenting assessment placements; and

- further information about the long-term funding of parental advocacy.


Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 14/09/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

There will be an opportunity for children and young people who watched the meeting from the public gallery to meet with Members to discuss the evidence heard during the session.

Minutes:

5.1 Members, organisations and children and young people discussed the evidence they had heard in the previous session.

5.2 The Committee to write to the Deputy Minister to follow-up on some of the issues raised.


Meeting: 12/07/2023 - Plenary (Item 10)

Petitions Committee and Children, Young People and Education Committee Joint Debate - Services for care experienced children and young people

NDM8327 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee, ‘Supporting care experienced parents’, which was laid in the table office on 02 March 2023, and the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, ‘If not now, then when? Radical reform for care experienced children and young people’, which was laid in the table office on 24 May 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the Petitions Committee report was laid in the Table Office on 14 June 2023 and the response to the Children Young People and Education Committee was laid on 5 July 2023.

Co-submitters

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

Minutes:

The item started at 17.39

NDM8327 Jayne Bryant (Newport West)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the report of the Petitions Committee, ‘Supporting care experienced parents’, which was laid in the table office on 02 March 2023, and the report of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, ‘If not now, then when? Radical reform for care experienced children and young people’, which was laid in the table office on 24 May 2023.

Note: The response of the Welsh Government to the Petitions Committee report was laid in the Table Office on 14 June 2023 and the response to the Children Young People and Education Committee was laid on 5 July 2023.

Co-submitters

Jack Sargeant (Alyn and Deeside)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.


Meeting: 12/07/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the Welsh Government's response

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee considered the Welsh Government’s response ahead of the plenary debate.

4.2 The Committee agreed to invite the Deputy Minister for Social Services and First Minister for a scrutiny session on the Committee’s report and Welsh Government response.


Meeting: 05/07/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 05/07/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 10/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

6 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the draft report

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 Members considered the draft report and made final amendments. Subject to those amendments being agreed electronically outside of Committee, the Committee agreed the draft report.


Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the draft report

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee considered the draft report. It would be considered further at next week’s meeting.


Meeting: 03/05/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 22/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 1.)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the key issues

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Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous evidence session.


Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

7 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 8)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence heard in the previous session.


Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

6 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 14

Julie Morgan MS, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Albert Heaney, Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, Welsh Government

Alistair Davey, Deputy Director Social Services Enabling, Welsh Government

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Deputy Minister.

6.2 The Deputy Minister agreed provide the Committee with feedback from young people who had received the basic income support.


Meeting: 09/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 13

Jan Coles, Head of Children and Families Services at Carmarthenshire County Council and the incoming Chair of the All Wales Heads of Children’s Services (AWHOCs)

Taryn Stephens, Head of Children’s Service, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council; and Incoming Vice Chair of the All Wales Heads of Children’s Services (AWHOCs)

Sally Jenkins, Strategic Director of Social Services, Newport City Council

 

Video evidence from ADSS

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1The Committee heard evidence from representatives from ADSS.

3.2 They agreed to provide further information on the development of the Windmill farm children’s home in Llanvaches.

3.3 The Committee agreed to send any unasked questions for a written response.


Meeting: 08/03/2023 - Local Government and Housing Committee (Item 4)

4 Letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee in relation to housing issues facing birth parents and care leavers

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Minutes:

4.2.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Chair of the Children, Young People and Education Committee in relation to housing issues facing birth parents and care leavers.


Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 9

Jane Shears, Head of Professional Development, British Association of Social Workers (BASW)

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from the British Association of Social Workers.

2.2 They agreed to provide the following information:

- Further information on the project to support overseas-qualified social workers to take up posts.

- Analysis of the 2022 annual survey results including an overview of the responses from Welsh social workers specifically.

- Comment on the dual role that social workers play when there are child protection concerns regarding the child of a care experienced parent (that of having a safeguarding role for a child - at the same time as being a corporate parent to a care experienced birth mother).


Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 8)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

8.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous sessions.


Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 11

Lee Phillips, Wales Manager, Money and Pensions Service and Chair of the Wales Financial Education Forum  

Alan Davies, Head of Funded Services Citizens Advice, England and Wales

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee heard evidence from the Wales Financial Education Forum and the Citizens Advice, England and Wales.


Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

6 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

6 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 12

Lena Smith, Chair of the CLASS Cymru network

Dr Hannah Bayfield, Research Associate, Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE)

Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Jacqui Boddington, Cardiff Metropolitan University and representing Universities Wales

Sophie Douglas, Policy Adviser, Universities Wales  

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

5.1 The Committee heard evidence from the CLASS Cymru network and Universities Wales.


Meeting: 02/03/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 10

Christine Parry, Children’s Services Manager, Barnardo’s Cymru
Sian Elen Tomos, Chief Executive Officer, GISDA

Sam Austin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Llamau

Yvonne Connelly, Operational Director West and North, Llamau

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee heard evidence from Barnardo’s Cymru, GISDA and Llamau.

3.2 Barnardo’s Cymru agreed to provide the Committee with further information on the work they are doing on the youth homeless prevention service in Swansea.


Meeting: 15/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 1)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - Stakeholder events [invitee only]

There will be a private event with children and young people to discuss the second theme of the inquiry, ‘In care: Quality services and support for children in care’. This event is being facilitated by Voices from Care.

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

1.1 Members met with care experienced children and young people to discuss the quality of care and support within the care system.


Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 7

The Right Honourable Sir Andrew Mcfarlane, President of the Family Division

The Honourable Mr Justice Francis, Family Division Liaison Judge for Wales

Minutes:


Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 8

Vikki Morris, Deputy Director, Centre for Justice Innovation

Peter Spinner, Team Manager, Cardiff and Vale Family Drug and Alcohol Court

Melissa Meindl, Research Associate, CASCADE, Cardiff University

David Westlake, Senior Research Fellow, CASCADE, Cardiff University

 

Minutes:


Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

2 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 6

Daljit Kaur Morris, Operations Manage, NYAS Cymru, Project Unity

Helen Perry, Service Manager, NYAS Cymru, Project Unity

Mark Carter, Assistant Director of Children’s Services, Barnardo’s Baby and Me Service

Amy Bainton, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Wales, Barnardos’ Cymru

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from the NYAS Cymru Project Unity and Barnardo’s Baby and Me Service.

2.2 Barnardo’s Cymru agreed to provide examples of good practise in producing quality parenting assessments in a timely way.


Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous sessions.


Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 08/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 02/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

4 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 4

Deborah Jones, Chief Executive, Voices from Care

Emma Phipps-Magill, Operations Director, Voices from Care

Sharon Lovell, Chief Executive Officer, NYAS Cymru

Ben Twomey, Director of Policy and Communications, NYAS Cymru 

Jackie Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Tros Gynnal Plant Cymru

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee heard evidence from Voices from Care, NYAS Cymru and Tros Gynnal Plant Cymru.

4.2 NYAS Cymru agreed to share with the Committee statistics relating to the number of children and young people who are in unregulated accommodation.

4.3 Voices from Care agreed to provide the Committee with a draft report on the research carried out under the ‘When I am Ready Scheme’


Meeting: 02/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session 3

Sarah Thomas, Director, The Fostering Network Wales
Elizabeth Bryan, Head of Operations in Wales, The Fostering Network Wales

Matt Lewis, Therapuetic Fostering Services Manager Wales, Action for Children

Rhian Carter, Team Manager, Action for Children

Mike Anthony, Manager, TACT Cymru 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

3.1 The Committee heard evidence from Action for Children, the Fostering Network and TACT Cymru.


Meeting: 02/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 1)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - Stakeholder events [invitee only]

There will be a private stakeholder event to discuss the second theme of the inquiry, ‘In care: Quality services and support for children in care’.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

1.1 Members meet with professionals and academics to discuss the quality of services and support children in care.


Meeting: 02/02/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the previous sessions.


Meeting: 26/01/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence from the Stakeholder events

Minutes:

4.1 The Committee considered the evidence it had heard in the stakeholder events.


Meeting: 26/01/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 2)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - Stakeholder events [invitee only]

There will be two stakeholder events, one with professionals and academics  and the other with birth parents both will be discussing the first theme of the inquiry, ‘before care - safely reducing the number of children in the care system’.

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

2.1 Members met with birth parents, professionals and academics to discuss the ‘before care’ (safely reducing the number of children in the care system) strand of the inquiry.


Meeting: 18/01/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session with young people

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee discussed the inquiry with young people who had care lived experience.


Meeting: 18/01/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - consideration of the evidence

Minutes:

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence it has heard in the previous session.


Meeting: 11/01/2023 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 08/12/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 3)

3 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical

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Meeting: 17/11/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 4)

Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform - evidence session with Children Commissioner for Wales

Rocio Cifuentes, Children’s Commissioner for Wales

Kirrin Spiby-Davidson, Acting Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Sara Jermin, Head of Communications and Performance

 


Meeting: 19/10/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 5)

5 Services for care experienced children: exploring radical reform

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Meeting: 21/09/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 7)

Looked after children and care leavers - further consideration of the scope and approach

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

7.1 The Committee agreed to the terms of reference and the approach to the inquiry. Members agreed to write to the Deputy Minister for Social Services for some further information.


Meeting: 14/07/2022 - Children, Young People, and Education Committee (Item 6)

Looked after children and care leavers - consideration of the scope and approach

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

6.1 The Committee discussed the scope and approach to the inquiry. It was agreed that a more detailed paper would be considered in the autumn term