Child Deaths since 01.01.2003 where child known to Vale of Glamorgan Council Social Services

The request was refused by Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Dear Vale of Glamorgan Council,

Please would you provide the following information under the Freedom of Information Act;

1. How many children known to Vale of Glamorgan Council Social Services, died of non-accidental injuries, including those who took their own lives, between 01.01.2003 and 31.03.2013?

2. How many children known to Vale of Glamorgan Council Social Services, died of non-accidental injuries, including those who took their own lives, between 01.04.2013 and 01.10.2017?

I await to hear and please provide any information in electronic format.

Yours faithfully,

dai pugh

FOI Unit, Vale of Glamorgan Council

Dear Dai Pugh

Thank you for your request for information.

Your reference is RFI 17 5780.

I hope to respond to you within the statutory timescale of twenty working days.

Kind regards

Information Governance Officer / Swyddog Rheolaeth Gwybodaeth
Democratic Services / Gwasanaethau Democrataidd
Vale of Glamorgan Council / Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
tel / ffôn: 01446 700111

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.
Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd. Peidiwch ag argraffu'r neges hon oni bai fod gwir angen.

Visit our Website at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Ewch i'n gwefan yn www.bromorgannwg.gov.uk

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Correspondence is welcomed in Welsh or English / Croesewir Gohebiaeth yn y Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg.

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FOI Unit, Vale of Glamorgan Council

Mr Pugh,

Re: Request for Information 17-5779 and 17-5780

We refer to your above requests for information.

In respect of your request for statistical information, we note you are seeking information for a 14 year period. We also note that your request makes a distinction between the first 10 years and the subsequent later four years. Further, it makes an inclusion between non-accidental injuries and those that took their own lives. Given these distinctions and inclusions, we would have to undertake a manual examination of our records to extract this level of data. Coupled with the long time period requested, this would take the request outside the time limits of the Freedom of Information scheme.

We can however advise you that in cases where a child has died of non-accidental injuries these are referred to the Regional Safeguarding Children Board. Since the inception of the Regional Safeguarding Children Board, this Authority has only made one referral and that was in relation to a very recent case. In respect of that matter, the Regional Safeguarding Children Board has commissioned an Independent Child Practice Review, that review is currently on-going however once concluded the report will be made widely available. This Authority will take the findings of the review extremely seriously.

We trust this clarifies the Council’s position however if you are dissatisfied with this response you may have same reviewed by writing to the Council’s Monitoring Officer, Head of Legal Services, at The Vale of Glamorgan Council, Civic offices, Holton Road, Barry, CF63 4RU.

Yours sincerely,

Foi Unit,
The Vale of Glamorgan Council

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Dear FOI Unit,

Thanks for your response which is very surprising.

Other Councils in Wales who have had similar request have been able to provide this information fully [it is only a number/statistic requested] except one where concerns of social services are being looked at [and I now note another who can't provide any of the information either].

The failure to be able to provide this statistic may be indicative of a poor performing social services department so I would ask you to look again at the request and also inform the cabinet member for social services that the department cannot provide this information or that it is not readily available to be found/disclosed.

Thanks for your response in advance.

Yours sincerely,

dai pugh

Weir, Anita J, Vale of Glamorgan Council

REF: RFI 17 5779 & RFI 17 5780

Dear Dai Pugh

 

As requested I have considered this matter again.

 

I have liaised with the relevant service area who have confirmed the
response as set out to you previously.

 

If you remain dissatisfied with this response you can refer this to the
Council’s Monitoring Officer at the Civic Offices, Holton Road, Barry CF63
4RU. 

  

Kind regards

 

Information Governance Officer / Swyddog Rheolaeth Gwybodaeth

Democratic Services / Gwasanaethau Democrataidd

Vale of Glamorgan Council / Cyngor Bro Morgannwg

tel / ffôn: 01446 700111

 

Consider the environment. Please don't print this e-mail unless you really
need to.

Ystyriwch yr amgylchedd. Peidiwch ag argraffu'r neges hon oni bai fod gwir
angen.

 

Visit our Website at [1]www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Ewch i'n gwefan yn [2]www.bromorgannwg.gov.uk

 

[3]Find us on Facebook / Cewch ddod o hyd i ni ar Facebook

[4]Follow us on Twitter / Dilynwch ni ar Twitter

 

Correspondence is welcomed in Welsh or English / Croesewir Gohebiaeth yn y
Gymraeg neu yn Saesneg.

 

 

 

From: dai pugh [mailto:[FOI #445405 email]]
Sent: 06 January 2018 12:52
Subject: RE: TRIM: Freedom of Information request - Child Deaths since
01.01.2003 where child known to Vale of Glamorgan Council Social Services

 

Dear FOI Unit,

Thanks for your response which is very surprising.

Other Councils in Wales who have had similar request have been able to
provide this information fully [it is only a number/statistic requested]
except one where concerns of social services are being looked at [and I
now note another who can't provide any of the information either].

The failure to be able to provide this statistic may be indicative of a
poor performing social services department so I would ask you to look
again at the request and also inform the cabinet member for social
services that the department cannot provide this information or that it is
not readily available to be found/disclosed.

Thanks for your response in advance.

Yours sincerely,

dai pugh

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Dear Weir, Anita J,

Looks like your relevant service area may have serious issues/problems if it is unable to provide such information.

Perhaps you can refer this request to the Monitoring Officer so that he/she can ask the Cabinet Member to review and he/she can identify what needs to be done to bring the relevant service area up to the level of other councils who have been able to deliver the same type of information requested.

Otherwise thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

dai pugh