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In my written statement of 24 January, I updated members on the engagement and development work we had been undertaking to deliver a National Multi-Agency Practice Framework for Children’s Services in Wales, formerly termed the National Multi-Agency Practice Strategy for Children. The rationale behind this work has been to improve consistency of practice across Wales and support a strengths-based way of working across agencies delivering children’s services.  This forms part of our radical reform of services to support children in care and care leavers.

I am pleased to announce today the publication of the . 

This Framework has been primarily developed for children’s services but can be adapted for use in any organisation working with children.  Partnership working has developed extensively in Wales over the last decade with agencies pooling expertise, support, and funding to navigate children through situations which can seem insurmountable. When this works well children, families and professionals all see benefits but when it fails it adds to risk, delays and missed opportunities for children, young people and families; and increases frustration and workloads for professionals.  Every part of the system needs to adopt a collaborative problem-solving approach, which is strength based, and the aim of this Framework is to drive forward progress and success with good practice. 

The Framework will be a live working document to take account of developments and changes in practice and the policy landscape across Wales, it will be accompanied by tools to support multi-agency practice.  For example, today we are publishing alongside the Framework, the first of these tools - the National Practice Guidance on Therapeutic Support for Care Experienced Children. 

The Practice Guidance steers existing therapeutic services working with care experienced children and young people to work in closer partnership across health, social care and third sector to ensure care experienced children and young people receive trauma informed therapeutic support at the right time, in the way that is right for them.

Listening to the voices of those with lived experience and upholding children’s rights is central to our core values in Îʶ¦ÓéÀÖ Government. This guidance has been developed in response to the feedback and voices of care experienced children and young people who told us they needed improved access to mental health and wellbeing support. The guidance has been co-designed with stakeholders, including foster carers, adoptive parents and practitioners. 

These publications today are just the start, with further additional tools and resources coming online during the next year.