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The Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, which also carries out the council's crime and disorder scrutiny, met on 18 June 2026. It agreed its work programme, received the 2025/26 social care budget outturn (the final year-end spending figures), which showed a pressure of about £3.6 million, and heard an update on removing profit from children's care. The committee agreed to thank staff and to receive further reports on both budget and profit-removal matters.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Trevor Bates and Alison Tynan.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declaration was made: Councillor Krista Childs declared a personal, non‑prejudicial interest in respect of the Social Care Budget Update, noting that members of her family are employed as social workers. She remained in the meeting and participated fully in the discussion and voting. The Councillor remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the changes outlined in report COGC/52/26, the work programme be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/52/26) to consider the work programme of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report and highlighted the following:- · The July meeting would include the annual review of health services, covering the work of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the Welsh Ambulance Service, the support provided by the Council’s Social Care Department and a continued focus on A&E outcomes. · Development of the draft 2026–27 work programme would also begin in July. · Regular items, such as the Library Review and an update on Community Agents, were expected to return. The following was discussed: - · Officers confirmed that the scheduled Community Agents item in December would incorporate the new social prescribing model, following an initial workshop. AGREED – That, subject to the changes outlined in report COGC/52/26, the work programme be agreed.
Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.
Krista Childs: Personal interest on Social Care Budget Update
A personal interest that is not prejudicial, because members of her family are employed as social workers. She stayed in the meeting and took part in the discussion and vote.
The council hasn't recorded attendance for this meeting.
Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.
Decision as recorded
AGREED: - (i) That the SCWSC acknowledges the work undertaken within the Social Care Department and the savings it is achieving under the changing landscape including the Removal of Profit from (Children's) Care, we commend all staff and Officers. (ii) That the SCWSC look forward to further reports in the coming year where it can clearly see the perform statistics
The Lead Member for Social Care, Health and Wellbeing and Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services submitted a joint report (COSC/27/26) to provide Scrutiny with a budget report in relation to Social Care Outturn Budget position for 2025/26. The report also aimed to provide Scrutiny with an understanding of current progress of social care savings plan. The report also detailed savings plan position for 2026/27. The Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services reported that the Social Care budget totalled £104 million. Whilst Adult Social Services recorded an underspend of £1.2 million, Children’s Services reported a budget pressure of £4.8 million, resulting in an overall Social Care budget pressure of just over £3.5 million. The appointment of Councillor Beverly Parry-Jones as Lead Member for Adult Social Services was noted and the savings targets identified for 2025/26. The following was discussed: - · Members received a detailed update on the Social Care budget position and the significant financial challenges facing both Adult and Children’s Services. · Officers highlighted a range of initiatives aimed at managing budget pressures and improving outcomes, including the Care Closer to Home programme, expansion of in-house fostering and residential provision, workforce development programmes, and continued efforts to reduce reliance on agency staff. · Discussion focused on the ongoing pressures within Children’s Services, particularly the high cost of residential and independent fostering placements for children with complex needs. · Officers advised that these challenges reflected wider national pressures across the care market rather than issues unique to Wrexham. · Members raised concerns regarding the substantial growth in the Children’s Services budget over recent years, recurring overspends, and the long-term sustainability of current spending levels. · Officers acknowledged these concerns but stressed that meeting statutory responsibilities and achieving the best outcomes for children remained the overriding priority. · Members emphasised the importance of prevention and early intervention, expressing concern that reductions in preventative services could lead to increased demand for more intensive and costly interventions. · Officers agreed that prevention remained central to the long-term strategy for both Children’s and Adult Services and provided examples of work being undertaken with families through early years services, children’s centres, Flying Start, parenting programmes and community-based initiatives. · The Committee also considered workforce issues, including recruitment, retention, vacancy levels and agency staffing costs. Officers reported that agency staffing had reduced significantly in recent years and highlighted the success of initiatives such as the “Grow Your Own” programme, which was helping to strengthen the permanent workforce and reduce dependency on agency workers. · Members sought clarification on a number of budget pressures, including provider services costs, corporate parenting expenditure, grant funding assumptions and vacancies within Prevention and Safeguarding Services. · Officers confirmed that further information would be provided following the meeting where detailed figures were not immediately available. · An update was also provided on work to reduce placement costs and increase local provision. · Members noted a reduction in out-of-county and externally commissioned placements and heard that regional and national work was underway to improve placement sufficiency and support Welsh Government’s agenda to remove profit from the care of looked-after children. · Members welcomed the ongoing Prevention Review and suggested that both prevention and social prescribing be considered as future scrutiny topics. · The considerable efforts of officers and staff in delivering services, progressing transformation programmes and achieving savings despite a challenging financial environment AGREED: - (i) That the SCWSC acknowledges the work undertaken within the Social Care Department and the savings it is achieving under the changing landscape including the Removal of Profit from (Children's) Care, we commend all staff and Officers. (ii) That the SCWSC look forward to further reports in the coming year where it can clearly see the perform statistics
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the Social Care, Wellbeing and Safeguarding Committee welcomed and appreciated the work being undertaken by Children's Services to support the phased implementation of the programme to remove profit from the care of looked-after children. Recognising the significant implications for service delivery and the Council's budget, the Committee requested that regular update reports be submitted until full implementation in 2030. (ii) That the Committee also thanked officers and Lead Members for their openness and comprehensive responses to Members' questions.
The Lead Member for Children’s and Family Services submitted a report (COSC/23/26) to provide the Scrutiny Committee with an overview of progress of removal of profit from children’s care and the implementation of the Special Guardianship offer. Presenting the report, the Lead Member outlined the Welsh Government’s policy to remove profit from children’s care services under the Health and Social Care Wales Act. The following was discussed: · Members considered the implications of Welsh Government’s programme to remove profit from the care of looked-after children and the transition to a fully not-for-profit model by 2030. · Officers outlined the Council’s strategic response, including strengthening preventative services, expanding in-house fostering and residential provision, increasing permanence for children, and developing sufficient local not-for-profit placement options. · Members were advised that the changes presented opportunities and challenges, particularly around future placement sufficiency, foster carer recruitment and the capacity of the care sector to meet demand. · Officers confirmed that work was ongoing with Foster Wales, commissioning partners and Welsh Government to assess future capacity, develop a placement sufficiency plan and support the transition to new operating models. Positive recruitment had been seen within the Council’s fostering and residential services. · An update was provided on Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs), including the Council’s “no detriment” policy, which ensured foster carers were not financially disadvantaged when taking on Special Guardianship responsibilities. Members welcomed the availability of SGOs and the continued person-centred approach to care planning. · Members received an update on the Council’s residential provision, including recently opened homes, planned developments and the expansion of local provision to reduce reliance on external placements. The importance of effective communication and community engagement regarding residential developments was emphasised. · Officers provided an update on preventative services, including the expansion of the Parents Under Pressure programme through Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), which aimed to strengthen family resilience and reduce the need for children to enter care. · Clarification was sought regarding support available to adoptive families and the implications of forthcoming legislative changes. · Officers advised that a three-year post-adoption support plan was provided following the granting of an Adoption Order, after which responsibility transferred to the local authority in which the child resided. Detailed regulations relating to future ministerial oversight had not yet been published. · Officers explained that future demand, placement requirements and support needs were monitored through trend analysis, care planning processes and regular reviews to support financial and operational planning. · Members raised concerns regarding potential market instability during the transition to a not-for-profit model and the impact this could have on vulnerable children. Officers acknowledged these risks and advised that local authorities and ADSS Cymru continued to work with Welsh Government on implementation challenges. · It was clarified that planning approval and Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) registration were separate processes and that residential developments referenced by Members were not included within the report where they remained within the registration process or fell outside the Council’s in-house provision. · In response to questions regarding adoption safeguarding, officers confirmed that learning from a recent high-profile court case would be reviewed through the relevant safeguarding and adoption boards and reflected in future service improvements where appropriate. · Members discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within social care services. · Officers advised that AI-supported transcription and note-taking tools were already being used to reduce administrative tasks and improve efficiency, enabling practitioners to spend more time working directly with children and families. · Members emphasised the importance of continuing to explore opportunities presented by emerging technologies whilst ensuring appropriate governance arrangements were in place. · Members also discussed the costs and staffing implications associated with supporting children with highly complex needs. Officers advised that future demand could not be predicted with certainty but confirmed that planning arrangements continued to monitor trends, assess future requirements and support the development of local provision wherever possible. · The Committee welcomed the report and the ongoing work being undertaken to strengthen local services, expand in-house provision and prepare for the significant changes to children's care services across Wales. AGREED – (i) That the Social Care, Wellbeing and Safeguarding Committee welcomed and appreciated the work being undertaken by Children's Services to support the phased implementation of the programme to remove profit from the care of looked-after children. Recognising the significant implications for service delivery and the Council's budget, the Committee requested that regular update reports be submitted until full implementation in 2030. (ii) That the Committee also thanked officers and Lead Members for their openness and comprehensive responses to Members' questions.
Decision as recorded
AGREED - That Councillor Jerry Wellings present the Committee's views and recommendations to the Executive Board on 7 July 2026.
The following was highlighted: - • The Committee noted that Councillor Jeremy Newton would Chair the July meeting in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair. · The Relocation of Cynnwys Resource Centre and Ffrwd Day Centre would be considered by the Executive Board on 7 July 2026. • As the Chair and Vice-Chair were unable to attend the Executive Board meeting, Members agreed that Councillor Jerry Wellings would present the Committee's views and recommendations, having been closely involved in the scrutiny process. AGREED - That Councillor Jerry Wellings present the Committee's views and recommendations to the Executive Board on 7 July 2026.