Agenda item

To consider and accept the report

DECISION:

·        To accept the report

·        To accept that four of the recommendations correspond to work plans that are already in the response plan to the Our Bravery Brought Justice report

·        To accept that two of the recommendations were not in the response plan but that they have now been included and are receiving appropriate attention

·        While accepting that the measures that have been met or have reached a certain level of quality will lead to the matter being closed, a specific timetable is needed, although accepting that giving a definite date would prove difficult

·        Appreciate follow-up/a progress report on the responses to the recommendations

·        Disappointed again that there was no acknowledgement from Estyn of the failures of their inspection of the Council's safeguarding arrangements, June 2023

Note: Scrutiny Investigation into Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools – an update needed

Following a request from the Council for Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales to conduct a joint inspection to evaluate developments in the Gwynedd Local Authority's safeguarding procedures, a report was submitted to the Committee highlighting the findings of that inspection. It was explained, since the arrest of the former Ysgol Friars headteacher, Neil Foden, in 2023 and later finding him guilty of sex offences in May 2024, the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report had been published in response to the opportunities missed to concerns relating to Foden and his interaction with children. The report had been commissioned by the North Wales Child Safeguarding Board and the Council's safeguarding processes and child practice were reviewed.

An Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales inspection was conducted in November 2025 and, following the inspection, recommendations had been submitted to the Council. It was noted that some of the recommendations had already received attention through the Our Bravery Brought Justice Report response plan (submitted to the Committee on 15-01-26), and that two that had not been included in the plan were being incorporated and receiving further consideration. It was considered that having one action plan was a practical decision. Attention was drawn to one recommendation (4d) which related to the commissioning and monitoring arrangements of service agreements which appeared to be an exception, a strategic element and one that stood on its own, but a response was being prepared for that recommendation.

The members thanked the officer for the report

Observations arising from the ensuing discussion:

·        Despite accepting that policies were being reviewed / created from anew, processes were being tightened, and information was being shared better, that these had already been in place and, was it, therefore, a lack of understanding, follow-up, staff failures and accountability that lead to the failures? There was a need to address this.

·        Scrutiny Investigation into 'Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools' - why were the outcomes of the investigation not available? Update required

·        There was a need to conduct training to give individuals the confidence to raise their voice

In the context of setting a timetable for the work, it was noted that when measures had been met or had reached a certain level of quality, the hope was that many should be closed by April 2026. However, because some matters were culture-related and, for example, that creating new policies took time, it would be difficult to set a schedule with specific dates.

When asking about strengthening safeguarding training for all staff and Governors ensuring that it was fit for purpose, it was noted that the current training was not sufficiently specialist and therefore in response, work had been commissioned to ensure that safeguarding training across services was up-to-date and completed by staff. It was reported that 77% of the workforce had now completed the training which was a significant increase on previous performance. The mandatory modules to be completed by the workforce were listed and it was reiterated that relevant training modules referred to by the Safeguarding Board for recording conversations had been adopted, as well as sessions sharing information about the Finkelhor Model.

In the context of training for Governors and whether there was training to empower them, ensuring qualifications or skills appropriate to the post, it was noted that this had been considered, and it was agreed that there was a need to strengthen governance arrangements. It was reiterated that governance clerks had advisory skills and received guidance on how to follow procedures, but there was a need to look at the provision. It was noted that there was an intention to implement a structure to ensure consistency in the provision, led by the Education Service. It was highlighted that the Council currently employed one Governor support officer, but there was an intention to employ another one. It was noted that the Education Service had no right to police who were elected Governors and this followed a constitutional procedure.

Disappointment was expressed that there was no reference or acknowledgement from Estyn on the failures of its inspection of the Council's safeguarding arrangements, June 2023 in the report. It was noted that there was a need for transparency, as Estyn was part of the 'history'. The Head of Education noted that he would write to Estyn for an explanation / statement after a termly meeting with them. Despite accepting the observation, it was reported that the Council had no control over the content of the report, but lessons had been learned from the practice review with the Council breaking new ground by inviting Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales to review and respond jointly - this offered Education and Care expertise. It was reiterated that the review had been a step forward and a change of direction to the way that Authorities were being reviewed.

In response to a question about why there was no reference to the Police in the Report considering the need for collaboration and early intervention, it was noted that there was no explanation about why there was no reference to the Police in the report, but it was reported that there was good collaboration between the Education Service and the Police. It was reiterated that discussions had been held to formalise what was being implemented, with a suggestion to use 'open access' so that the Council had open access through Teams, to the Police, the Probation Service and the Health Service.

RESOLVED

·        To accept the report

·        To accept that some of the recommendations (1,2,3,4,4b and 4c) correspond to work plans that are already in the response plan to the Our Bravery Brought Justice report

·        To accept that two of the recommendations (4a and 4d) were not in the response plan but that they have now been included and are receiving appropriate attention

·        While accepting that the measures that have been met or have reached a certain level of quality will lead to the matter being closed, a specific timetable is needed, although accepting that giving a definite date would prove difficult

·        Appreciate follow-up/a progress report on the responses to the recommendations

·       Disappointed again that there was no acknowledgement from Estyn ⁠on the failures of their inspection of the Council's safeguarding arrangements, June 2023

Note: Scrutiny Investigation into Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools - an update needed