Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Dyfrig Siencyn. ⁠

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

None to note.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chair for consideration.

None to note.

Assurance as to the implementation of the Response Plan.

DECISION

1.          Accept and note the report and work programme, and request an update in 6 months.

2.          Recommend to the Cabinet:

 

Work Stream 1: Voice of the Child and Supporting Victims

·       Measurable arrangements should be established that clearly show how the child's voice and victims' experience directly influence decisions and outcomes;

·       Long-term support for victims needs to be ensured without causing further trauma;

·       Children facing challenges need to be given appropriate attention and unconscious bias should be avoided;

·       Relevant information should be easy to read and accessible to children.

 

Work Stream 2: Managing Allegations and Concerns About Adults Working with Children

·       The arrangements for managing allegations and concerns should ensure that any doubt about the suitability of adults to work with children and vulnerable adults is assessed at an early stage, is appropriately escalated and independently challenged, regardless of the status of the practitioner;

·       Clear safeguards are needed for individuals who raise concerns;

·       Incidents that do not directly relate to children need to be examined;

·       Evidence should be gathered to show that change is taking place and to enable future scrutiny;

·       Consideration should be given to extending the time period for the audit in Part 5, Wales Safeguarding Procedures, by more than two years;

·       It should be checked that there is a mechanism in place to ensure, if necessary, that there is a transition from human resources processes to Part 5 procedures.

 

Work Stream 3: Training and Policies

·       Policies and training should be rigorous and reviewed to support professional judgement and challenge;

·       There needs to be evidence that training changes behaviour and decisions in practice, and is not solely a matter of attendance;

·       Safeguarding records should be regularly reviewed and supervised by a specific officer to ensure that they are in accordance with the requirements;

 

·       'Grooming' should be specifically identified in the training arrangements, and given timely attention.

 

Work Stream 4: School Governance

·       School governance arrangements should be strengthened to identify patterns of risk over time, to ensure clear pathways of escalation, and include an element of independent challenge or assurance; 

·       Appropriate support should be offered to equip governors to appropriately challenge and identify patterns;

·       Consideration should be given to the training provided for Chairs and Designated Safeguarding Governors.

 

Work Stream 5: Reasonable Force

·       It should be ensured that staff understand when the use of reasonable force is appropriate, and that they feel confident and supported to take action to protect children;

·       It should be ensured that reviews focus on learning lessons rather than blaming.

 

Work Stream 6: Crisis Planning and Crisis Response

·       Crisis planning and response should be treated as a living process that is part of the safeguarding process and should be tested regularly;

·       Clarity is required in relation to roles;

·       Effective communication with staff should be ensured;

·       Arrangements need to be continually reviewed to ensure that lessons learned from Ysgol Friars remain operational over time.

 

Work Stream 7: Supporting and Stabilising Ysgol Friars

·       Supporting and stabilising Ysgol Friars should be used as a basis for whole-system  ...  view the full decision text for item 4.