Consequence of austerity for the care system: Views from senior managers

Clive Diaz

Summary

A ExChange Wales blog explores how prolonged austerity has reshaped the care system, drawing on interviews with senior managers in children’s services. Despite rising numbers of children in care, many leaders struggled to articulate how to deliver child-centred practice, often assigning blame to staff or young people rather than recognising systemic pressures. The research highlights persistent high workloads, stagnant social worker numbers amid growing demand, and a significant reduction in senior leadership roles since 2010 — factors that have left managers overwhelmed and care planning inconsistent. Ultimately, the piece suggests that austerity has become embedded in practice contexts, undermining the quality of services for looked-after children.