Neil Foden, has been found guilty of sexual offences against children.
The Headmaster of Ysgol Friars in Bangor, Gwynedd was also Strategic Head at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, in Penygroes. It is presumed that Foden's considerable salary has still been paid by Gwynedd council since his arrest in September, last year.
Could Foden have been stopped...?
The trial heard evidence from Garem Jackson, former Head of Education at cyngor Gwynedd, that concerns were raised about Foden in 2019. The concerns raised by another senior teacher were not acted upon and instead Garem Jackson was advised to have a chat with Foden about the issues raised. Jackson outed the whistleblower to Foden during the subsequent telephone conversation.
https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2024-04-30/authorities-failed-to-investigate-former-accused-headteacher-over-concerns
Garem Jackson was advised by (presumably?) the senior safeguarding officer for children at Gwynedd council and while Jackson made no record of the concerns raised, surely this safeguarding officer would have done...?
The children's safeguarding officer wears many hats at the council. For several years, he has held the position of senior safeguarding and quality officer for children's SS and is also the department's senior complaints officer. The two roles are not compatible and concerns have been raised with regard to his 'independence' during complaint investigations.
He is also a registered social worker, the register until recently showing 'Gwynedd' to be this officer's 'county of work address/county of study'. For some reason this is now not the case and instead the register states 'not applicable' under this heading.
Foden - How could this happen?
"You were a powerful figure, you thought you could just do as you liked," Judge Rowlands added.
He
said it was worrying that when concerns were first raised to Gwynedd
county council about Foden in 2019 by a senior member of staff, "they
were dismissed out of hand, no investigation took place, no note was
taken of what was said or done, and now we know you continued to
offend".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce43313v37eo
The culture of cover up by senior officers at Gwynedd council has been well documented in previous posts. Both
Garem Jackson and the senior safeguarding officer have refused to
answer questions from scrutiny members in the past - along with the
former cabinet member for children.
How has this been allowed?
People who do speak out have been smeared by senior officers and ignored by local councillors. From cabinet members through to scrutiny committee members - complicit in the toxic culture that has been allowed to continue to cover for incompetence and protect reputational damage...
What happens next...?
A council spokeswoman said -
Due to the serious nature of the case, arrangements are being made
to carry out an independent review in accordance with national Child
Practice Review guidelines.
The exact form of the review is currently being determined.
With cyngor Gwynedd being found, by the Ombudsman for Wales, to have interfered in a past 'independent' investigation and other independent investigations delayed for years, how can the public have confidence that any review into such serious matters will be any different? Will cyngor Gwynedd engage in an open, honest and transparent manner...?
Better a proper public inquiry with the power to call witnesses...
Those witnesses should include the former CEO, Dilwyn Williams and the former Director of SS, Morwena Edwards. Both were in post in 2019 with ultimate responsibility for the actions of officers.
A reminder that both left the council just as the final investigation report into the two teachers suspended for 9 years was to be released. There has still been no official statement from the council nor details of the cost to the public purse. This case would also have involved the safeguarding officers and the former Head of Education...
Questions also need to be asked of the school Governors. Did they not notice Foden's behaviour? Were concerns raised with them...?
And what of the two historic complaints that were recently revealed in the delayed 2022/23 SS complaint handling report...?
Something is so very, very wrong within Gwynedd council...
No comments:
Post a Comment