0:00:02 > 0:00:03of looking after her.
0:00:03 > 0:00:06I worry - is my daughter still going to be alive
0:00:06 > 0:00:07this time next year?
0:00:07 > 0:00:09In foster care, the girl has been moved 17 times
0:00:09 > 0:00:11in a search for the right home.
0:00:11 > 0:00:20Tonight we ask is this good enough for her and others in care in Wales?
0:00:20 > 0:00:22I am aware that some children experience many moves
0:00:22 > 0:00:23and I think that's very sad.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And we find out what happened to the girl behind the story
0:00:27 > 0:00:30which shamed our care system more than 20 years ago
0:00:30 > 0:00:31and led to calls for change.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34They need to do what they can to help her so she don't
0:00:34 > 0:00:38turn out like me.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46The mother at the centre of this story can't appear on camera
0:00:46 > 0:00:49for legal reasons and we have to protect the identity
0:00:49 > 0:00:54of her child, so actors will tell their story.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58I was a single parent, we had everything we needed ? a nice life.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01My daughter is a very lovable little girl.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04But she doesn't like the word no, she couldn't handle it.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09My daughter hasn't lived with me for four years now.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Before she went into care she was having aggression outbursts.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14It was like walking on eggshells, didn't know
0:01:14 > 0:01:18when it was going to happen.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20Sometimes it would last hours, others it would be over quick,
0:01:20 > 0:01:23but sometimes her eyes would just glaze, she'd go pale
0:01:23 > 0:01:26and you knew what was coming.
0:01:26 > 0:01:35She'd be making a grunting noise.
0:01:35 > 0:01:42She would have the strength to rip mattresses off,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45wardrobes ripped apart and smashed up and the chest of drawers -
0:01:45 > 0:01:47everything was down the stairs, blinds, curtains, curtain poles.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50I used to try to keep her calm and talk her through it.
0:01:50 > 0:01:59She'd say she couldn't remember them rages.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01It was a rage which I couldn't control,
0:02:01 > 0:02:02that's why I had to get help.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05The mother was convinced her daughter had mental health issues.
0:02:05 > 0:02:06She asked social services for help.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09She'd asked doctors - could the child have a form of autism?
0:02:09 > 0:02:11She was told her daughter had behavioural issues.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14When she attacked her mother again, the girl was taken into care.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I had no more strength, no more energy
0:02:16 > 0:02:18and my whole house was in pieces.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21There was no more I could do.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24They just said they wanted to take her for six weeks and get
0:02:24 > 0:02:34to the bottom of her behaviour and work with us as a family
0:02:34 > 0:02:37and if we signed it voluntarily she'd come back.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40We thought it was all positive to help her.
0:02:40 > 0:02:45I didn't want her to go.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46I couldn't cope.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48She was kicking and screaming.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50The mother has never been accused of abusing
0:02:50 > 0:02:54or neglecting her daughter.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57She says social workers accused her of treating her as a younger child,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and criticised her for trying to get a medical diagnosis
0:03:00 > 0:03:01for her behaviour.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03They said the mother was part of the problem,
0:03:03 > 0:03:09and being in care would allow the girl to fulfil her potential.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12They took her and within half an hour of them taking her I had
0:03:12 > 0:03:16a phone call to say that there was a police search for her
0:03:16 > 0:03:17and they had lost her already.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19They'd taken her to the council offices ready for the
0:03:19 > 0:03:22foster placement and they left her in the car.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25One social worker went to sort out the paperwork and the other social
0:03:25 > 0:03:28worker was in the front of the car and she attacked that
0:03:28 > 0:03:30social worker - beat her.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34She just ran.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43She got on a bus to get home.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47She was still in primary school and she got the bus home.
0:03:47 > 0:03:53We are not identifying where they live.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55Since being taken away from her mother, the
0:03:55 > 0:03:57girl has run away from one foster home after another.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59She's now on her 17th placement.
0:03:59 > 0:04:04Most have broken down because of her escalating behaviour.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07She put herself at risk no matter where the social worker put her.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10She would get on a bus, she'd tell me she would cry
0:04:10 > 0:04:12to the bus driver that she needed to get home and they
0:04:12 > 0:04:14would just let her on.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16She'd hide in the toilets of trains too.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19The mother thought her child would receive behavioural therapies,
0:04:19 > 0:04:21but she says things got worse and she feared for her
0:04:21 > 0:04:25safety in foster care.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27So how much responsibility does she take for what's
0:04:27 > 0:04:30happened to her daughter?
0:04:30 > 0:04:34I don't blame myself because this is what has always kept me going,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36I knew she was always loved and cared for.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40That's kept us fighting.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42I brought her up same as I was brought up.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44You know, you learn off your parents don't you?
0:04:44 > 0:04:48I was brought up to know right from wrong, you know the word no.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50My mother's voice would be enough for me.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52The girl hasn't been to school regularly for two years.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Instead she'd go missing.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57She's been caught shoplifting and when the violent outbursts
0:04:57 > 0:05:01continued she was moved to a more secure unit.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05The council - which we are not identifying for legal reasons -
0:05:05 > 0:05:08is investigating claims that she recently tried absconding
0:05:08 > 0:05:15from the unit in the boot of a car and was found en-route to England.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The girl's mother says instead of being better protected,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21she is now at serious risk of harm because of the amount of times
0:05:21 > 0:05:27she has been moved around.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31She says her daughter has started smoking,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33drinking, using cannabis and is now at risk of
0:05:33 > 0:05:35sexual exploitation - and this all happened
0:05:35 > 0:05:38under the council's watch.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41The mother didn't know where to turn so she sought help from the
0:05:41 > 0:05:43mental health charity MIND Cymru.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45I'm meeting the woman who acts as the mother's advocate.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47To protect the mother and daughter's identities,
0:05:47 > 0:05:48her words are spoken by someone else.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51This is probably the worst case I have ever seen.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55She's been in a terrible state really because it's not
0:05:55 > 0:05:58understanding how this could have happened.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00The family were law abiding people.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03They wanted help and they can't understand why they went for help
0:06:03 > 0:06:08for their daughter and ended up losing her.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10As someone outside the family, what was you impression of
0:06:10 > 0:06:14the situation and their parenting?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I couldn't see anything horrendously wrong with the parenting.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20None of us are perfect, you know, we could all do things better,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23but I couldn't see anything wrong with their values.
0:06:23 > 0:06:29I couldn't see how this child has become this way.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31As one foster placement after another broke down,
0:06:31 > 0:06:35the girl's behaviour got worse.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37She needed a therapeutic placement but the council said
0:06:37 > 0:06:40it couldn't find one.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43It was always as if this is an emergency placement till
0:06:43 > 0:06:46we find another one and now another emergency placement.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49You are talking about a child going into a family that,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53you know, there's your bed, there's the television,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57there's the internet if you are lucky and you behave.
0:06:57 > 0:07:04But there's no rules, no boundaries - not how parents are.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07The advocate helped the mother complain to the council about why
0:07:07 > 0:07:10the girl was missing so much school.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15When she was at home they did struggle getting her to school.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20If she lived at home and she didn't go to school they'd be in trouble
0:07:20 > 0:07:25but it's OK for her to say no to the social workers
0:07:25 > 0:07:28or to the people in the placement and then its fine and we can't
0:07:28 > 0:07:30force her - that's OK.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It seems very much double standards.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35The council says this is a particularly challenging case
0:07:35 > 0:07:37due to the child's non-engagement and that it's continuing
0:07:37 > 0:07:40to address the issue.
0:07:40 > 0:07:48But when she wasn't in school, the girl was at risk on the streets.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50She is very vulnerable in the way that she
0:07:50 > 0:07:52is too trusting with people.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54She would go off with people who might do bad things
0:07:54 > 0:07:57to her but just for the attention and I feel she is confused,
0:07:57 > 0:08:03I think she feels unloved, unwanted, no self esteem.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06Just over two years after she was taken into care,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10the mother received disturbing news from social services.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13They told me there was an incident with some boys her own age,
0:08:13 > 0:08:16they were out playing, they said there'd been some sexual
0:08:16 > 0:08:19contact and then in another incident another boy who was a bit older,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23sent indecent pictures of himself to her on Facebook, on her phone.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Social workers told her that her child was now at risk
0:08:25 > 0:08:30of sexual exploitation in the community and online.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Can you imagine how that made me feel?
0:08:32 > 0:08:36I felt physically sick.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Regardless of why she went into care, the council is accused
0:08:39 > 0:08:42of failing in its duty to act as a good parent now that it's
0:08:42 > 0:08:46responsible for the girl.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49This is probably the worst case I have ever seen,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52of a child being removed from a loving family
0:08:52 > 0:08:54and not being nurtured.
0:08:54 > 0:09:00And being passed from pillar to post.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03In Wales there are more than 5,600 children in care.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06For many it works.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08But last year around one in ten of them had to move
0:09:08 > 0:09:10three or more times.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14That's something that raises serious concerns.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17I am meeting Lord Laming who has chaired independent reviews
0:09:17 > 0:09:21into some of the UK's most high profile care scandals including
0:09:21 > 0:09:25the Victoria Climbie inquiry.
0:09:25 > 0:09:31Just think what it means if every few months you go to live
0:09:31 > 0:09:34in a different place with people you've never met before.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38One case we've been told about, 17 moves.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41What impact would that have on a child?
0:09:41 > 0:09:46It gives the impression that nobody cares, that they don't matter,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49it gives the impression that the authorities are primarily
0:09:49 > 0:09:54concerned primarily with giving them a bed to sleep in.
0:09:54 > 0:10:00It's not about having a creative, individual care plan
0:10:00 > 0:10:04that is going to say, this is this child's needs,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07this is how we're going to tackle these needs, and this is when we're
0:10:07 > 0:10:10going to do it and we're going to do it now.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15Coming into care ought to be that trigger to change things around.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17What happens if that isn't done?
0:10:17 > 0:10:21What impact can that have on a child's life?
0:10:21 > 0:10:26Well, they will be scarred for life, they will have continuing problems.
0:10:26 > 0:10:32It's a terrible price to pay for failure.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35Since the early 1990s there have been a number of scandals in Wales
0:10:35 > 0:10:39which exposed failures in the care system.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41There've been warnings about what could happen to children
0:10:41 > 0:10:44who slipped through the net.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48One case prompted the Sarah Report.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50These newspaper headlines from 1993 tell the story
0:10:50 > 0:10:55of a 12-year-old girl in care, known as Sarah.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Her mum contacted the press because of the risks she faced
0:10:57 > 0:10:59after she went into care.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Much like the girl we've been told about, Sarah was running away,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05she wasn't going to school and she was drinking
0:11:05 > 0:11:06and taking drugs.
0:11:06 > 0:11:15Sarah ended up being sexually exploited.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Sarah was meant to be better protected in the care system.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20But back then, she was in real danger.
0:11:20 > 0:11:27She'd often be found in the city's former red light district.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Sarah used to run away from care and spend time here -
0:11:30 > 0:11:32she sold sex to fund her drug habit.
0:11:32 > 0:11:41She was 12 years old.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43For weeks we've been trying to find Sarah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45She'd be 35 now.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49We wanted to know what life has been like for her since she left care
0:11:49 > 0:11:52and what would she say to the girl who is at risk now.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54Eventually we found her and she agreed to speak to us.
0:11:54 > 0:12:02She's asked us not to identify her.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04I been back and forth in prison out prison, in out,
0:12:04 > 0:12:06doing the same shit really.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Sarah's life is still chaotic and dominated by drug abuse.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13I been smoking crack, I been smoking heroin.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15I been watching people jacking up in their groin,
0:12:15 > 0:12:18I been in the pubs drinking.
0:12:18 > 0:12:19You were the girl in the Sarah Report.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21What difference did it make to you?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It didn't make a difference to me.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27I was going down that roller coaster and I wasn't coming back.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29The people reading the articles were led to believe that
0:12:29 > 0:12:31things had improved.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Nah, they was never improved, nothing ever improved.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36I was still on the streets selling my body taking drugs
0:12:36 > 0:12:42and that report sitting on a shelf doing lock all.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45Like the teenage girl who's still in care,
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Sarah kept being moved around the system.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50I went from a foster family to a children's home,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53just moved around really.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Did you go to school when you were in care?
0:13:21 > 0:13:23When you reflect on that time and your life generally
0:13:23 > 0:13:33what could have made a difference, what could have helped you?
0:13:53 > 0:13:55The girl's mother, just like Sarah's, was desperate
0:13:55 > 0:13:57for care to do just that.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00But councils can struggle to find the right foster placement
0:14:00 > 0:14:02because there aren't enough of them, especially for children
0:14:02 > 0:14:06with challenging behaviour.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08She said once when we had to send her back to one
0:14:08 > 0:14:11of the foster carers she'd had enough, she would rather jump
0:14:11 > 0:14:15in front of a train than put up with it all and I was like,
0:14:15 > 0:14:16no, please don't say things like that.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19We all love you and we are all fighting for you but
0:14:19 > 0:14:22then it's let down after let down.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24The council told us some of the placements
0:14:24 > 0:14:26were short term emergencies.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Others broke down for other reasons, ranging from absconding
0:14:28 > 0:14:32to assaults on staff.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34The mother says she's been warned her daughter
0:14:34 > 0:14:39could end up in a secure unit if her behaviour doesn't improve.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43It should never have got to this stage, she's had so many moves,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45how is that OK?
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Care shouldn't be like this.
0:14:48 > 0:14:53Last year Welsh councils spent almost ?250 million on providing
0:14:53 > 0:14:56services for looked-after children.
0:14:56 > 0:15:01Foster care can cost between ?23,000 and ?43,000 a year.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05But if that doesn't work, it can cost even more.
0:15:05 > 0:15:11The cost of keeping a child in a young offender institution -
0:15:11 > 0:15:13?60,000 a year.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16The cost of keeping a child in a secure children's home
0:15:16 > 0:15:18- ?200,000 a year.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22The cost of keeping an older person in prison -
0:15:22 > 0:15:25very costly indeed.
0:15:25 > 0:15:33And, it can be just a negative experience in a downward spiral.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37This is our one opportunity to at least do everything we can
0:15:37 > 0:15:45to change that and it should never be for the want of trying.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47In a report last year, Lord Laming warned the UK
0:15:47 > 0:15:50and Welsh Governments that too many looked-after children were ending up
0:15:50 > 0:15:53in the judicial system.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57And there's a financial as well as a human cost.
0:15:57 > 0:16:04The price is often a life of sadness, and the cost to society
0:16:04 > 0:16:08is often in mental health services, addiction service
0:16:08 > 0:16:12or in the criminal services.
0:16:12 > 0:16:17Hey, we can do better.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20After so many foster placement breakdowns,
0:16:20 > 0:16:25the mother of the teenage girl says care has failed her.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28She should have had the help she needed.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31She is now a failed little girl lost in the system.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Last summer the advocate from MIND was so worried about the girl's
0:16:34 > 0:16:37welfare that she contacted the office of the Children's
0:16:37 > 0:16:43Commissioner for Wales and asked for an investigation.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I said about the lack of education, I said about the number
0:16:46 > 0:16:48of foster placements, and that this child just
0:16:48 > 0:16:49wasn't being looked after.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52And they took all my concerns then contacted me a couple of weeks later
0:16:52 > 0:16:56to say that they had inevstigated and felt that it was a very complex
0:16:56 > 0:17:00case and they didn't think there was anything wrong.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02What did you think about that response?
0:17:02 > 0:17:05I was really unhappy.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08They didn't speak to mum and they didn't ask me any questions.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10I did say please don't take this personally but I am disgusted
0:17:10 > 0:17:13with what you told me - I can't believe you have come back
0:17:13 > 0:17:17and said there is nothing wrong, you know, there catergorically is.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20They thought the investigator would call - and the mother
0:17:20 > 0:17:27would have told them social workers had flagged their concerns
0:17:27 > 0:17:28about the girl's welfare within the council.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31And, that having identified her daughter as being at risk of sexual
0:17:31 > 0:17:35exploitation at the age of 12, the girl had to wait nearly five
0:17:35 > 0:17:38months for the help she needed.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39I think it's disgusting.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42They could have found out more if they had contacted me.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44I could have told them about my concerns, about the care
0:17:44 > 0:17:46she is not receiving.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49I wanted to ask the Commissioner Sally Holland, did her office know
0:17:49 > 0:17:51about the delays in getting the girl specialist help.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56And why didn't her officials contact the girl's mother?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59I'm afraid I'm not able to talk about the specifics of that case.
0:17:59 > 0:18:06However, in general I run a learning organisation and if anyone did have
0:18:06 > 0:18:08any concerns I would actively encourage them to come
0:18:08 > 0:18:10to my organisation.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12We would want to respond to them, talk to them
0:18:12 > 0:18:14as promptly as we could.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Can you understand the parent's frustration though trying
0:18:16 > 0:18:21to raise these risks, these dangers, their concerns
0:18:21 > 0:18:23and going to organisations like yourselves, like the council,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25and feeling like they're hitting their head on a brick wall.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Can you understand those frustrations?
0:18:28 > 0:18:32As I said I don't have the child's consent to talk about this case.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34I'm not able to talk about this specific case.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Is it acceptable that a child has 17 moves?
0:18:37 > 0:18:41No one would ever want that to happen to any child.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I am aware that some children do experience that many moves
0:18:44 > 0:18:48and I think that's very sad.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52Having told the child's mother and police that she was at risk
0:18:52 > 0:18:55of sexual exploitation, the council said it would arrange
0:18:55 > 0:18:56specialist counselling for her.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00But for months nothing happened.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02I think it should have been an urgent referral -
0:19:02 > 0:19:06a child at risk - and I think it should have been discussed more
0:19:06 > 0:19:09and I think more concern should have been placed upon it.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11It took too long for something that's so serious -
0:19:11 > 0:19:17and anything could have happened in that time.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20The council says it didn't need to tell the commissioner's office
0:19:20 > 0:19:23about social workers' escalating concerns about how much
0:19:23 > 0:19:28school she was missing, or the number of times she'd been moved.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It admits there was a delay in referring the girl's case for help.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34And it says it didn't tell the Commissioner's office because it
0:19:34 > 0:19:44wasn't asked for further information on the issue.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Among the more than 5,600 looked-after children in Wales,
0:19:49 > 0:19:51there is a clear need for specialist therapeutic placements.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53The Children's Commissioner says she's worried supply
0:19:53 > 0:19:57is not meeting demand.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00Over the last year I've raised this twice with the director of
0:20:00 > 0:20:02social services in Welsh government and I've also raised it
0:20:02 > 0:20:04with the Cabinet Secretary for Children, my concerns
0:20:04 > 0:20:06about the shortage of these kind of placements.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10I was talking to a social services head last week, who said to me
0:20:10 > 0:20:11they were particularly concerned about one child,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14really needed to find a safe place for her to live -
0:20:14 > 0:20:17she was coming out of hospital - and they approached 100 different
0:20:17 > 0:20:19providers before they found somewhere safe enough
0:20:19 > 0:20:22for her to stay in.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26That's the kind of situation that the local authorities are in.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31Sometimes young people are having to go to Scotland or quite far
0:20:31 > 0:20:35distances in England from Wales, in order to be safe and receive
0:20:35 > 0:20:37the care that they need.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40That's not right for the young person and it's not right
0:20:40 > 0:20:43for their family either.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47When her last foster placement broke down,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50the council was told by an expert that the girl needed
0:20:50 > 0:20:51behavioural therapies.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53She was sent to a council-run children's home.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Not long after, her mother had a phone call.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59There was an incident in the woods with two older boys -
0:20:59 > 0:21:01both of them are older.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03One's a man really.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Apparently she went into the woods with them and came out.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09She told the friends that they done stuff to her.
0:21:09 > 0:21:10She is only a child.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12I just screamed down the phone.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16It makes me feel pathetic, helpless.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19The council wouldn't tell us what it did to investigate the allegations
0:21:19 > 0:21:23or why the girl wasn't sent to a therapeutic unit sooner.
0:21:23 > 0:21:32But it says it's undertaking its responsibilities in full.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35After 16 moves the girl was finally sent to a therapeutic residential
0:21:35 > 0:21:38unit where she has access to education
0:21:38 > 0:21:41and mental health monitoring.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45But her mum is still worried.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48She is supposed to hand her phone to them at night but she refuses
0:21:48 > 0:21:51and they don't make her cos she says she will kick off.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54She was ringing me up at 2 in the morning.
0:21:54 > 0:22:00I said, what you doing up this time of night?
0:22:00 > 0:22:03She said, I'm bored.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04I'm on FaceTime with my mates.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I said, well why have you got makeup on,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09and she said, oh just to do selfies on FaceTime.
0:22:09 > 0:22:10I got a photo.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12She looks like she's going to a nightclub.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13She looks 18.
0:22:13 > 0:22:14It just scares me.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16I know what's out there on the internet.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18I'm petrified.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21They may say it's more secure but she's been on the phone
0:22:21 > 0:22:23to me under the influence of drink and drugs.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26She managed to get some random person to buy her drink
0:22:26 > 0:22:28when she went into town and she's told me an older girl
0:22:28 > 0:22:31in the same unit has given her cannabis a few times,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34so God only knows where that could end up.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37I'm worried about what other drugs she will do and if she gets hooked
0:22:37 > 0:22:40she could end up going down the road of prostitution for the money.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Cos she's so hurt nothing is going to hurt her any more.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45If a parent can't protect their child
0:22:45 > 0:22:48then the care system is meant to.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51It's 23 years since the controversial Sarah Report
0:22:51 > 0:22:55exposed how - as a 12 year old girl in care - she'd slipped into a
0:22:55 > 0:23:01dangerous world.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14Sarah says this is where another girl who was in care
0:23:14 > 0:23:17taught her how to sell sex.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42To the men who abused Sarah, her age didn't matter.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47A few guys did know my real age and they still had sex with me.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Sarah says one day she was picked up off the streets and attacked.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23She says she didn't report what happened.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27She went back to her foster placement and said nothing.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Cardiff Council told us it's committed to doing
0:24:50 > 0:24:54everything possible to prevent child sexual exploitation.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57It says it would be inappropriate for it to comment on the working
0:24:57 > 0:25:00practices of its predecessor, South Glamorgan Council.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03It said important lessons had been learned following the Sarah Report
0:25:03 > 0:25:06which helped bring about marked improvements in the way
0:25:06 > 0:25:13local authorities look after vulnerable children.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Having met Sarah, it seemed some things hadn't changed for her,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19but what advice would she give to the girl and others
0:25:19 > 0:25:29still in care?
0:25:46 > 0:25:49So is there enough help out there for children throughout Wales
0:25:49 > 0:25:53who could be at risk of being sexually exploited?
0:25:53 > 0:25:55We are getting better at identifying children,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59better at identifying perpetrators of child sexual exploitation ?
0:25:59 > 0:26:02police are actively chasing them.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03What we're not...
0:26:03 > 0:26:06What we don't have enough of yet is the services
0:26:06 > 0:26:08to help children recover from child sex exploitation.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12We don't have enough consistent available therapeutic services
0:26:12 > 0:26:14so those children can recover and go onto lead active lives.
0:26:14 > 0:26:20It's shocking.
0:26:20 > 0:26:21It's shocking.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23These are the most vulnerable children, waiting for specialist
0:26:23 > 0:26:26counselling, how can that be acceptable?
0:26:26 > 0:26:32I would expect any child to have the counselling
0:26:32 > 0:26:34services they need - any child who's been through
0:26:34 > 0:26:37child sexual exploitation, as early as possible and that's why
0:26:37 > 0:26:38I've been raising it as a concern.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41Support for victims of sexual exploitation is provided by police
0:26:41 > 0:26:42forces and partner agencies.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45A spokesperson told us prompt and positive steps are taken
0:26:45 > 0:26:52to intervene effectively as soon as evidence of need emerges.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children,
0:26:54 > 0:26:59Carl Sargeant, declined an interview but a spokesperson said that
0:26:59 > 0:27:02improving the life chances for looked after children
0:27:02 > 0:27:06is a key priority.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09They said councils have a legal duty to ensure they have enough
0:27:09 > 0:27:13placements to meet the needs of children in their care,
0:27:13 > 0:27:17though they recognise the particular challenges
0:27:17 > 0:27:19in finding therapeutic placements.
0:27:19 > 0:27:24It's also working on a National Fostering Framework for Wales.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27The mother of the teenage girl has been told she is likely to remain
0:27:27 > 0:27:31in council care until she's 18.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I have asked them to provide her with contraception.
0:27:33 > 0:27:40It's not something I want - she's only a kid herself,
0:27:40 > 0:27:49but if she has a child, is that child going to be
0:27:52 > 0:27:55but if she has a child, is that child going to be born
0:27:55 > 0:27:57and become lost in the system?
0:27:57 > 0:27:59I worry is my daughter still going to be alive this
0:27:59 > 0:28:00time next year?
0:28:00 > 0:28:04The council told us it was unaware of the girl's drug misuse and it
0:28:04 > 0:28:06believes there's been a reduction in her risk-taking behaviour.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09It also says the risk of her being sexually exploited have
0:28:09 > 0:28:11decreased as a result of her being in a secure setting.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14The mother disagrees and has asked the Public Services Ombudsman
0:28:14 > 0:28:16for Wales to investigate the council about the way it's
0:28:16 > 0:28:17cared for her child.
0:28:17 > 0:28:18She is waiting for a response.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Two decades after leaving care, Sarah still hasn't found
0:28:21 > 0:28:28the stability she longed for.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34But after all she's been through, Sarah is no
0:28:34 > 0:28:44longer sure that she can.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04A Welsh Government committee is working on an action plan
0:29:04 > 0:29:07to implement Lord Laming's recommendations for keeping children
0:29:07 > 0:29:11in care out of trouble.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Too often when things go wrong, it can seem like a self-fulfilling
0:29:14 > 0:29:18prophecy, like "what do you expect of children in care?"
0:29:18 > 0:29:23We must never let children be written off.
0:29:23 > 0:29:28Every child in care is precious.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31And for the mother who told her daughter's story,
0:29:31 > 0:29:36her only hope is that it's not too late to change the ending.
0:29:36 > 0:29:40My daughter hasn't got a future - she hasn't got one -
0:29:40 > 0:29:44unless we can get the right help for her now.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Who is going to help and save her?
0:29:46 > 0:29:56That's my worry.