Agenda item

This report provides the Committee with a copy of the Cabinet Responses briefing on the CAMHS services as provided by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

(a) Councillor Sue Lent (Cabinet Member, Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader) has been invited to present the Cabinet report;

(b) Tony Young (Director, Social Services) will comment on the report and be available to answer questions;

(c) Questions from Committee Members

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sue Lent (Early Years, Children & Families and Deputy Leader) and Tony Young (Director Social Services) to the meeting.

The Chairperson invited both the Cabinet Member and the Director to make a statement.  The Director indicated that encouraging progress is being made in context of the challenge being faced in the City and that there has been an increase in the number of children referred as a result.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments from Members:

• Members queried where the children were being referred from.  Officers indicated that they are aware of the sources of referrals and the areas from which they are being referred from.

• Members asked whether there was research or resource into earlier identification of the risky behaviours to enable focus on prevention.  Officers advised that all involved – schools and communities need to make children aware of the perils faced in the city or and the relationship between their behaviour and what is going on around them.  There is no one single approach, it is important that people recognise that a number of factors may be driving a greater level of vulnerability to CSE.

• Members noted that engagement with the wider community should take place; taxi companies, take away restaurants, licenced premises and city centre locations to develop prevention strategies, but also felt that hotels should be included in that and that perhaps it should form part of an employee’s induction in that service area. Officers advised that briefings to cinema staff and hotel staff have taken place. 

AGREED – That the Chairperson on behalf of the Committee writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.