Cardiff Women’s Aid contract to provide services to at-risk children up for review

Posted on December 16, 2009
Filed Under Children Parenting, Domestic Violence, Funding, Health, Wales, Women's Group | Comments Off

Children on the at-risk register could be placed in danger by council budget cuts, a senior charity worker has claimed.

Morgan Fackrell, chief executive of Cardiff Women’s Aid, has said authority chiefs looking to plug a £15m financial black hole want to axe a service that helps protect the children of abused mothers.

The charity, which runs five refuges across the city, provides specialist help, including protection and support for mental health problems, to more than 120 youngsters both in refuges and their own homes every year on behalf of Cardiff Council.

Ms Fackrell said working alongside council social workers, they had made great progress in getting children exposed to violence at home out of danger.

But Cardiff Women’s Aid’s £63,000 annual contract has been put up for review for the third year running and although she has fended off the axe man for the past two years, the charity chief executive fears they may not be so lucky this time.

“If they cut this it’s what’s called a red-line cut, which means there will be a direct effect on children,” said Ms Fackrell.

She added that while the council would switch to providing the service themselves if the budget is cut, she believes Cardiff Women’s Aid has the best expertise in the area and can therefore offer the most help.

But Cardiff council has stressed that while the money is being reviewed, no decisions have yet been made.

A spokeswoman said: “Cardiff Council can confirm that discussions have been taking place between Cardiff Women’s Aid and children’s services about the service level agreement we have with them for services to children in need.

“The chief children’s services officer received correspondence on Thursday from Women’s Aid and that is receiving attention.

“Public sector budgets are determined annually and Women’s Aid has been advised that children’s services discussions with them are taking place as part of budget planning for the 2010/11 financial year.

“They have also been advised that, while the matter is being considered, no decision has yet been made.”

Ms Fackrell said while she understood local government had to make savings, she believed the constant rounds of savings being inflicted both externally and internally were damaging services.

“I speak to social workers who tell me that middle managers in social services spend the first six months of every year trying to settle back down after the cuts and then the rest of the year worrying about what will be cut next and identifying areas where savings could be made, instead of supporting staff and children,” she said.

“It’s the same for us. The whisper I hear from elected members is that it is unlikely we would be cut, but I can’t plan ahead on that basis.”

Ms Fackrell added: “We know full well there are links between child deaths and domestic abuse.

“But we were left stunned by a new report that came out recently which said that not only are two women estimated to die from domestic abuse in the UK every week, but that two children also die.

“Many of the children we deal with are on the at-risk register and we come into contact with them just as their mother is preparing to leave an abusive home or just after she has left. This is a very dangerous time for children.”

One mother whose son has been helped by Cardiff Women’s Aid said: “Women’s Aid understands that children are also hurt in the process of domestic abuse, it is a fantastic organisation.

“Children are the most important. Without this service they would be forgotten about.”

Another mum added: “It has been brilliant for my daughter. The house was in turmoil, it was a very bad situation and it has been nice to have the support there for her.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/12/12/vulnerable-children-could-be-put-in-danger-as-budget-is-cut-91466-25374883/

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