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Friday, December 9, 2022
CHILD CARE COMPLAINT IS UPHELD
Council apologises after report flags up human rights failings
The parents of a child in the care of Powys County Council were not “informed as a priority” their son had been admitted to hospital following an attempt to kill himself, a report has revealed.
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales Michelle Morris has upheld a complaint the council breached the human rights of the child, known as “B”, and the parents, known as “Mr and Mrs A”. The couple had complained the council had failed to safeguard and promote their son’s welfare. They were also unhappy about how the council managed their complaint. The ombudsman said the coun-
ELGAN HEARN
newsroom@mnamedia.co.uk cil’s internal investigation had noted how the authority had “failed to keep Mr and Mrs A informed of arrangements for B, including informing them as a priority when B had been admitted to hospital following a suicide attempt”. The report said: “This lack of transparency and administrative failings caused an avoidable breakdown in the relationship between Mr and Mrs A and the council.” In the report, the ombudsman’s investigating officer said: “The lack of transparency and administrative failings engaged Mr and Mrs A’s human rights under Article Six and Article Eight. The council had not assessed B’s needs and so it could not show that it had regard to the
human rights implications of the arrangements it made for him. “Moreover, the council did not recognise B’s concerns when they were brought to its attention by B’s parents. In this, it denied him any meaningful participation in the complaints process. “By failing to keep Mr and Mrs A appropriately informed of arrangements for B, the council did not act fairly and in line with a human rights-based approach to the provision of children’s social care.” The ombudsman’s report makes several recommendations to ensure improvements are made. A spokesman for Powys County Council said: “The council accepts the findings and the recommendations from the Public Service Ombudsman for Wales in this case and has apologised to the family for its failings.”
Covid booster programme hits million mark Statistics published this week show over a million people in Wales received their Covid-19 booster vaccination this autumn. Public Health Wales’s weekly data shows the number of people who have now received their booster reached 1,023,594 last week. It has also been confirmed that eligible people in Wales should by now have received an invitation for their latest booster vaccine.
The Welsh Government has urged anyone who is eligible for a booster, but has not received an invitation, to check with their local health board. This year’s autumn vaccine programme has been offered to anyone aged 50 or over, residents and staff in care homes for older people, frontline health and care workers, people aged between five and 49 who are in a clinical risk group and
their household contacts, and carers aged between 16 and 49. The roll-out of the booster programme began in September, and is running alongside the annual flu vaccination programme, to help boost the immunity of those at higher risk against severe illness and to protect the NHS this winter. Health Minister Eluned Morgan welcomed the success of the autumn booster programme.
Joanna Morgan of Radnor Preserves with her Christmas chutney at Kington Winter Food and Drink Festival on Saturday. Photos by Andy Compton.
Tempting tasty treats pull in big crowds to food festival Record numbers of visitors packed into Kington on Saturday for one of the town’s biggest winter food and drink festivals ever. A festive atmosphere attracted huge crowds all day, with the park and ride scheme and town car parks constantly busy. Organisers said many of the 100 artisan exhibitors from across Powys, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and South Wales sold out of their top quality produce. There was a wide range of goods such as wine, cider beer, apple juice, spirits, charcuterie, gourmet mushrooms, chocolate, fudge and patisserie. There were also spices, cheese, sauces, nuts, olives, marshmallow, puddings, fermented food, pies, meat and game, bread, preserves, and oils. And the festive atmosphere was boosted by choirs and street entertainers who performed all day. Festival organisers Gareth Clark and Pam Peek said: “It was a fantastic day. We had what we believe were record numbers of visitors. “It was definitely one of the biggest food festivals we have ever held. There were lots of cars in car parks throughout the town and the
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Phoebe Boulanger of Presteigne’s Boulanger Artisan Bakery park and ride scheme was very busy all day. “The weather was fantastic, dry and cold, and the atmosphere was great. Many of the stallholders reported that they sold out of produce, some before the end of the festival. We hope it was a great start to Christmas in Kington. “We would like to thank all the stallholders who attended, all the volunteers who helped with numerous tasks on the day, before the event and afterwards, and all those who came along on the day and supported the event.” l Top – Page 22