Agenda item

To accept the Safeguarding Strategic Panel's Annual Report for the year 2025/26.

The report was submitted by Cllr Dewi Jones.

DECISION

To accept the Safeguarding Strategic Panel's Annual Report for the year 2025/26.

DISCUSSION

The importance of this Panel was highlighted, and it was recognised that the last few years had been challenging for the Council. Pride was expressed at the action taking place following the publication of the Our Bravery Brought Justice Report, to strengthen the Council's arrangements in this area.

Referring to the Council's attempt to be open and transparent in its response, it was explained that this item had been submitted to the Care Scrutiny Committee, and that it was intended to submit it to the Full Council in due course as well.

Concerns were raised about the increase in the number of child and adult referrals being received, and the impact of this on the services and staff of the relevant departments. It was then noted that the number of staff who had completed the VAWDASV training had increased, and that the figure of schools that had delivered safeguarding training to their staff was now 100%.

Thanks were expressed to all Council staff who had undertaken this work, reminding everyone that safeguarding was a matter for all departments.

Attention was drawn to the fact that data at the front of the Report was still being verified, and it was noted that some of these figures may be updated by the time the Report was submitted to the Full Council in due course.

The Vice-chair of the Care Scrutiny Committee was welcomed to the meeting to present the Committee's recommendations to the Cabinet. The Committee's satisfaction with the progress in the work of the Panel was confirmed.

Observations arising from the discussion:

·       Reference was made to the increase in the number of referrals to children's services in 2025/26, and it was questioned whether increased awareness and higher levels of training among staff was a factor when considering this increase. The increased awareness among staff was welcomed. The concern about the number of referrals was reiterated, but on the other hand the need to ensure that people referred appropriately, without delay and without hindrance was noted.

·       In response to a question about the training situation for Governors, reference was made to the data noted in the Report regarding the Safeguarding training sessions for Chairs and designated Safeguarding Governors. Reference was made to the crucial role of Governors in the system, and therefore that it was vital for them to be aware of all the safeguarding arrangements and the responsibility they had. It was highlighted that an additional officer was now working within the team supporting Governors within the Education department.

·       When discussing whether this increase in referrals was common across the country, it was explained that the County received slightly fewer referrals on average than other counties. However, it was highlighted that every county in Wales was seeing an increase in referrals and it was assumed that there were national sociological questions about what was behind this increase and how to address it. Attention was drawn to the fact that Gwynedd followed the national trend of recent years, noting that there was an increase in the number of children on the child protection register as well as the number of referrals. 

·       An observation was made about the clear concern regarding the DoLS service for quite some time now, and it was asked how the department hoped to address this. In response, it was stated that the recent Supreme Court ruling meant that there would be a significant change in this area. While the statutory guidance regarding this decision had not yet been received, it was anticipated that hundreds of people could be removed from the DoLS waiting list as a result.  It was stated that nothing would be changed until the guidance was received. As the Council had invested in the workforce, it was hoped that there would be an adequate resource to cope with the pressures of this area going forward.

·       Reference was made to the percentage of Council staff who had completed the VAWDASV training and it was asked how it was intended to increase this percentage. It was stated that this training was statutory and the fact that Wales was at the forefront in this regard was welcomed. This was elaborated upon noting that plans were underway to try to increase the number completing that training as well as the safeguarding training. Reference was made to the role of the Safeguarding Promotion Officer in trying to ensure the accessibility of the training to all parts of the workforce and ensuring that staff completed it.

·       Attention was drawn to the British Sign Language (BSL) training that had been provided to Siop Gwynedd staff. There was pride in the fact that videos of a person signing on several pages of the Council's website were now available, so that the most general information was accessible.

·       In response to a question about the 'Safe Zones' that had been developed in Bangor and Caernarfon, it was revealed that the Council was still working closely with the Police. It was detailed that they were trying to ensure that there were areas with adequate street lights and CCTV cameras to enable people to walk safely after dark. It was reported that the Council was seeking to undertake a joint assessment with the Police, to try to understand where the greatest risks were and identify those areas where crime had taken place in the past so that this scheme could be developed across the County. A Cabinet Member acknowledged that officers no longer looked at these cameras in real time, and there was concern that this was a step backwards due to the risk of missing an opportunity to intervene if a person was in danger. It was noted that this had been mentioned at a recent meeting of the Bangor/Ogwen Area Forum in a conversation with the North Gwynedd Region Inspector. It was stated that this had not been raised in the Safe Places Group or the Safeguarding Strategic Panel, but it was agreed to discuss it with relevant officers to see if it was something that should be considered.

·       Reference was made to a previous comment about Governors, reporting that a questionnaire had been circulated to Governors to express their confidence in their roles and safeguarding roles. It was hoped that the results of this questionnaire would be shared soon.

·       When offering more information about the Children's Services' proactive approach to ensure that the child's voice is heard when responding to concerns relating to individuals working with children and young people, it was stated that the change in the system meant that a social worker would go to speak to the child if any allegation about anyone in a position of trust was made. It was mentioned that there were a few occasions where the child themselves or a parent had refused that contact, and that could be challenging.

·       Reference was made to the scrutiny investigation carried out by members of the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee, about talking to children to find out their understanding of how to make a referral or allegation, and who to turn to if they had a concern. It was confirmed that a report on this had been submitted to the Scrutiny Committee, and that children seemed generally aware of the processes to follow. The continued work also underway in this area was then discussed. It was noted that a report on the scrutiny investigation was about to be published, and all those involved in the work were thanked. It was highlighted that support had also been provided to the scrutiny investigation by independent investigators.

·       There were concerns about the increasing number of children being home-educated, and that parents had the right to refuse any contact from the Council. It was highlighted that it was a matter that arose in the Education Department's performance challenge meetings, and it was explained that this increase was seen nationally. This was elaborated upon by noting that a system had been created for the purpose of visiting those who de-registered, and that this was monitored. The challenges involved in this area were mentioned, and a suggestion was made for the need for national discussions in light of the progress.

The different cohorts within the figure of home-educated children were then highlighted; it was mentioned that some of these children had de-registered from school, and others had never attended school and therefore had received their entire education at home. It was emphasised that cohorts of the children receiving home education were well educated, but that there was concern about other cohorts of these children. It was explained that the support offered to those who were home-educating their children was optional and therefore the Council had no right to enforce that contact, unless there were safeguarding concerns. It was proposed that this was something that the Government should be looking at, and it was believed that there were some cases where the authority needed more rights.

As a result of the increase in the field of Additional Learning Needs, it was believed that some children did not receive the necessary support within the education system, and that this was a factor in some parents' decision to remove their children from school.

·       The work undertaken to prevent violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence was recognised, and it was confirmed that more needed to be done in this area. The need for society to be doing more in this area was also emphasised, highlighting the fact that the number of people experiencing domestic violence in north Wales was one of the highest in Britain. It was noted that there was a need to look at the development of domestic violence services better across the Council and across other public organisations. The need was then noted to ensure that these matters remained at the top of the Council's agenda, and the need to offer ongoing training to staff and residents.