Fault Is With Officers Not The Safeguarding Policies - Neil Foden - Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

Ten months after the arrest of Neil Foden, parents and governors still have little confidence in cyngor Gwynedd council to stop any future abuse.

At last weeks Education and Economy Committee, the representative for Arfon's parents and governors expressed her concerns and asked for an 'interactive infographic' to be made to ensure that everyone knew how to report abuse.

But the safeguarding procedures are well known - it is written on the back of many staff key cards. The policies have not failed rather the officers whose job it is to ensure childrens safety have failed...

It is a concern that the governor's rep has little confidence that things have improved. She may be aware of the new governing body that has been appointed at Ysgol Friars and one wonders if she has confidence in them also.

The new chair of the governors is councillor Dafydd Meurig. Other members appointed by the council are Elin Walker Jones, Gareth Mark Parry, John Wyn Williams and R Medwyn Hughes -
https://www.ysgolfriars.cymru/en/the-governing-body

Councillor Medwyn Hughes sat on the previous board and his re-appointment does not inspire confidence. Nor does the appointment of Elin Walker Jones, the present cabinet member for children, who has remained silent on the SS department's revelation earlier this year of historic complaints from 2013/14 concerning the Arfon social workers team.

Dafydd Meurig, was the deputy leader of the council and also cabinet member for the Adult SS department when they were being hauled over the coals by the Ombudsman for Wales for maladministration and bad behaviour towards the disabled under the last administration. One case featured in the PSOW's human rights casebook - it was that bad.

This case should have come before full council and a review undertaken of the social worker(s), their manager and the care home involved.
Meurig did not present it to full council...

In February, 2021, a banner was attached to the railings outside Morrisons supermarket in Caernarfon. It was swiftly removed by the council.

The public outrage prompted the Plaid MS for Arfon, Siân Gwenllian, to ask questions of the council.
https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/gwynedd-council-review-vehicle-policy-19777848

Over a year later, there had been no update from Gwynedd council nor the MS...
Local elections were held and Plaid Cymru increased their majority. After the election, the leader of the council shuffled his Cabinet and Dafydd Meurig was replaced by Dilwyn Morgan, who was the former Cabinet member for children and families. 

Morgan's tenure was also overshadowed by controversy. The PSOW finding maladministration and bad behaviour by his department also. A reminder that Dilwyn Morgan refused to answer questions of the Care Scrutiny Committee after one 'damning' PSOW investigation. It is also claimed that Morgan failed to take action against the senior safeguarding officer after allegations he misled councillors and the public.

In the reshuffle, Dafydd Meurig became Cabinet member for the Enviroment.

In September, 2023, the MS for Arfon was sent an email asking for an update on the vehicle misuse and mentions Gwynedd social workers using the cars for 'extra curricular activity'. 

Her office replied that Ms Gwenllian only asked about the Waste and Recycling department and passed on a message that she had received from Dafydd Meurig -

A letter and email was sent to officers who had the right to take vehicles home as part of their working terms, on 29/03/2023. The letter stated that the consultation period has ended and that no officer from the Waste and Recycling service is now exempt from the new policy - 'Use of Council vehicles for commuting'. In accordance with the procedure, a period of notice must be given to staff and the period of 90 days has started on 31/03/2023 and ends on 29/06/2023. So by the end of June the exercise of using the council's vehicle for journeys between home and work will come to an end. 

At the time of the protest, there was a perception that some officers of all departments considered the vehicles their personal property to do with as they pleased - including using them for trysts away from the office. So it is surprising that the focus was on one department only. 

Perhaps Aled Gibbard, the former senior operational manager and now head of resources, should have dealt with the matter. He would have far more knowledge of the affair than any councillor. For how long has it been considered normal practice that officers use these vehicles (and the fuel) to commute between home and work? All staff or just senior officers?

Dafydd Meurig did not bring this case to full council, either...

To outsiders, the perception is that many senior managers within the council and schools are incompetent and that a toxic culture of cover up has allowed many to get away with actions and behaviours that would not be tolerated in the private sector. The attitude of many senior councillors only adds to this perception...

In other news, it is reported that cyngor Gwynedd have suspended two staff members at a school. A spokesperson said -
We can confirm that two members of school staff in Gwynedd have been suspended from their posts and that the council is conducting internal investigations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgm8my77kno

The school has not been named but it is reported that the council are conducting an internal investigation. There is no trust in those undertaking Gwynedd council's internal investigations and in light of Neil Foden it may be more appropriate for councillors to insist that officers of another LA to be tasked with investigating the matter.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Safeguarding, School Leaders And Article 4 - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

The Article 4 directive was passed at the Cabinet meeting of cyngor Gwynedd council on the 16th July, 2024. Two members were absent from this important meeting. Apologies were received from the deputy leader of the council, Nia Jeffreys and the cabinet member for housing, Craig ab Iago.

The meeting was webcast and can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/895758
As often happens, the translated feed is not yet working...

The Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 18th July, 2024. Four councillors did not turn up and a co-opted member was also absent.  

Olaf Cai Larsen was elected as the new chair. A vice chair was not elected as no-one wanted the position. One councillor was proposed but he point blank refused and so the matter was deferred until the next meeting.

Overview and scrutiny is important in holding Council's policy makers to account and scrutiny committees are fundamental to the functioning of a healthy democracy. Some councillors have raised concerns that there is no proper scrutiny in Gwynedd and one has even compared it to a 'children's parliament'. 

The chair and vice chair of scrutiny committees are allowed access to the Scrutiny Forum. The forum is where the real power lies and determines what is and what is not to be scrutinised at the committees. This forum should be open to the public to ensure propriety.

First up on the agenda was the GwE Annual Report 2023-2024, presented by its managing director, Arwyn Thomas. GwE is to come to an end in March, 2025 and this will be its last report in its present form. GwE is a school improvement service for the whole of North Wales but this year their meetings have focussed more on job losses than any school improvements. 

GwE never really recovered from the 'hotdesking' and inflated travel expenses scandal that came to light in 2020. It has never been explained why the former CEO did not action when the council's internal audit flagged  - "To this end, Internal Audit cannot provide assurance that value for money has been taken into account when changing work locations."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53661995

Next up was the Middle Tier Review. This report comes about in part because -
Recent publications including Estyn reports, PISA and the personalised assessments national report, have identified a need to improve the quality of learning and outcomes within and across schools, and the consistency of this across Wales for ALL learners...

The report appears to lay the blame for this on poverty which does not explain those children who are failing whose parents are not in poverty. 

The report goes on to ask - How well are we doing? How do we know? How can we improve?
To achieve this, school leaders and practitioners should work in partnership with each other and their LA within an open, trusting environment.
So school leaders, practioners and the culture is the problem - not poverty.

Schools in Gwynedd have suffered from many issues over the years from bullying, harassment and assault. The problems have not been dealt with and the Neil Foden case only confirms that pupils (and teachers) are not safe...

A reminder that the Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee failed to hold Neil Foden to account after the school meals debacle and also took no action when the video appearing to show Foden grabbing a pupil by the scruff of the neck appeared online.

A report, authored by Llion Williams and titled Safeguarding Arrangements in Schools was presented. The report can be found in the meetings agenda pack here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5168/Public%20reports%20pack%2018th-Jul-2024%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

As is to be expected after the Foden case arrangements have been updated. But they appear to focus on safeguarding children from their parents and it appears that little has been done to advise what happens if a senior teacher and/or the designated officer responsible for safeguarding is the one being abusive. 

One councillor pointed out that the school's last Estyn report stated that safeguarding procedures were robust - when they were obviously not. Did Neil Foden assist Estyn in this report?
To an outsider, Foden was able to abuse with impunity and there is nothing in this report that suggests those in a position of authority will not be able to abuse again. 

The BBC did report on this meeting but its focus was on matters relating to Foden -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cl4ym5kl85eo

The council's current head of education, Gwern ap Rhisiart, told the education and economy scrutiny committee that safeguarding was a "priority" for the department.

But Sharon Roberts, representing Arfon's parents and governors on the committee was more critical -
"Accept how little confidence there is out there among parents I speak to, everyone has been shocked by what has happened."

Gwynedd and Eryri Sustainable Visitor Economy Plan 2035 was discussed.
Cllr Gwynfor Owen mentioned that the national park agency do not engage with the county council and a plea was made to consult with councillors.

It was perceived that the report deals with growth rather than a sustainable visitor economy. The officer explained that they wanted to extend the tourist season rather than the peak in summer. There was little data to the impact on local jobs and the the language. 

The committee complained of the negative effects of tourism and that too many people were visiting the area, causing traffic jams and that locals were not able to get to the beach. Seasonal jobs were not great for those with families and mortgages and that all year round jobs were needed for peoples security. It was mentioned that many businesses were reliant on children...

This led to a trip down memory lane for some who talked of their own childhood experiences working for local businesses. It was pointed out that laws have since been introduced because of the exploitation of children by bosses...

In stark contrast to the Cabinet passing Article 4, one councillor talked of second homes bringing benefits to the local economy and called for a debate to dispel myths on the issue. He contended that these homes relied on local traders, such as plumbers and electricians who in the main spoke the language and that it was a win win. 

Many agreed that more research was needed and one commented that the report goes in every direction but the right direction. Councillors were not happy with the report but they voted to pass it anyway...

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

 

 

Neil Foden And The Culture Of Cover Up - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

The full council of cyngor Gwynedd held a meeting on the 11th July, 2024.
The leader of the Independent group, Angela Russell, asked a question with regard to Neil Foden -

The Cabinet member for Education, Beca Brown, responded and spoke of her disgust for Foden and that lessons will be learned. She added that details of what exactly happened will be known after the North Wales Safeguarding Board Child Practice Review.

Many people have little faith that a review will be adequate including the Cabinet member herself who has spoken of the need for a pubilc inquiry. This is not a reflection on Jan Pickles, who has been appointed to lead the review - more on the officers who will be giving 'evidence'...

Will the former Cabinet member for Education, Cemlyn Rees Williams, be giving evidence to the review? It is believed Williams was in post in 2019 when Garem Jackson received the email from a teacher at Ysgol Friars whistleblowing on Neil Foden. Did he know of the safeguarding officer's advice to Jackson to simply have a chat with Foden about his behaviour?

During William's tenure, articles critical of Foden were appearing in the press. In 2020, he was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct by the Education Workforce Council-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54300055

Then there was the furore over the School meals: Head teacher of 2p debt threat 'thrown under bus'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59341464

Both Williams and Garem Jackson, then head of education, were questioned by Gwynedd council's Education and Economy Committee on the matter. Jackson refused to answer. Williams just complained that he was being compared to Boris Johnson, who at that time was being accused of lying to the nation. Councillors did not challenge their behaviour.

In early 2022, the video of Foden allegedly grabbing a pupil by the neck appeared online. This was raised at the next Education Scrutiny meeting. Again Garem Jackson chose not to comment, promising an update at a later time. Some have suggested that Foden took the rap for the Education department's callous approach to school meals during the pandemic and that perhaps this was the reason that no action was taken over the alleged assault. Whatever the reason, it was another missed opportunity to address serious issues surrounding Neil Foden.

A reminder that the education department only changed their stance on school meals after the intervention of footballer, Marcus Rashford...

It is concerning that many councillors appear to care more for the reputation of Cyngor Gwynedd Council and the senior officers than they do for the county's children and families.

Councillors of the Care Scrutiny Committee have ignored emails warning of maladministration and bad behaviour of senior officers - on more than one occasion. 

Cabinet member, Dilwyn Morgan has also failed to pass on crucial information relating to the senior complaints manager of the children's SS department when he misled councillors. The complaints manager is also the senior safeguarding officer for Gwynedd council - he wears many hats...

Another Cabinet member appears to suffer from amnesia in relation to one Ombudsman for Wales investigation. She was handed a copy of the report after a council meeting but when later asked what action she took, she said she had no memory of receiving the report. Councillors may suggest that Gwynedd council do not make critical reports available to them. This is no excuse as many are reported in the press and regulators publish them online anyway.

Councillor R. Medwyn Hughes, shut down communication with one family when he was asked for a meeting to discuss behaviours of senior officers. Hughes was also a school governor at Ysgol Friars but left the post after Foden's trial. There are suggestions he may return as governor as he is considered a safe pair of hands for the council...

When councillors turn a blind eye to the bad behaviours of senior officers, it emboldens them and embeds the toxic culture within the council even more.

Luke Clements, a Professor of Law, at Leeds University wrote of the culture within Gwynedd council  -

The full article can be found here -
https://www.lukeclements.co.uk/omg-will-it-never-end/

One councillor who sits on the Employment Appeals committee remarked that no-one was interested in the meetings and since then the committee has been closed to the public. There is a perception that this statement was taken as a request to officers to shut it down before one of the teachers suspended on full pay for 9 years was due to come before the committee.

In other news, one councillor refused to vote for the election of a vice chair at one meeting, protesting that Plaid Cymru were taking all the seats. This meeting was not webcast...

At another meeting, a councillor complained that committee meetings were not available on the council's website. The council's democracy service officer explained that though the meetings are recorded, they are not webcast and so can not be viewed later. The councillor was not content.

Something is very, very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Why Wasn't Neil Foden Stopped? Cyngor Gwynedd Council

Why wasn't Neil Foden stopped...? Cyngor Gwynedd council

Earlier this year, Gwynedd council's children and family department reported that complaints of a historic nature had been received dating back to 2013. No action was taken by social workers of the Arfon team. When the report was presented to the Care Scrutiny Committee not one councillor commented or even asked about their welfare. Shameful...

Controversy has plagued Gwynedd council ever since its creation in 1996 after the North Wales abuse scandal. Concerns about its councillors have been raised in Parliament, too. More recently, the Ombudsman for Wales has found them guilty of maladministration - on several occasions.

In 2014, the safeguarding team along with officers from the education department and North Wales police began an investigation into a complaint of alleged cruelty against children at Canolfan Brynffynnon in Y Felinheli. The pupil referral unit (PRU) catered for children with behavourial issues and others who did not cope well in mainstream schools including those with disabilities. Two members of staff were arrested and suspended by the council.

It is believed that a few weeks later, a third member of staff was suspended after a separate incident was reported. It is claimed this staff member was interviewed by police who decided there was no case to answer.  

The initial allegation of cruelty has always been disputed and the case was dropped in 2016 after the Criminal Prosecution Service received new information from the police. This 'new information' has never been made public. 

This case is troubling on many levels. There has been speculation asking if the investigating officers followed law and official procedures when interviewing the children? Or did the investigation begin from a malicious allegation and then evidence gathered to support the initial complaint?

Wasn't Liz Saville Roberts, now MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, the Cabinet member for Education at this time? Perhaps she could throw some light on this case and put an end to the speculation?

Over £800,000 was paid to NWP by the council and then there is the cost of those suspended on full pay, plus the cost to the council conducting their own investigation(s) into the matter. A reminder that Gwynedd council have a history of interference in investigations and writing reports in spite of the evidence. 

Did the actions of the safeguarding team in 2014 make them reluctant to take on Neil Foden?  Or, as some have suggested, was he protected because of his paygrade?

The Foden case is a can of worms for senior officers within safeguarding, education and NWP. It is no surprise that senior officers wish for a review of safeguarding only - which will be so limited that it will be worthless.

Six months before Foden's arrest, Geraint Owen, executive of the council and councillor Dyfrig Siencyn, leader of the council presented the Ffordd Gwynedd Plan to the Cabinet. It talked of a change of culture and mindset within the council -
…This is all rooted in a change of culture, behaviours and mind-set and its aim of realising the ambition across all parts of the Council’s activities is acknowledged as a substantial challenge and one which requires a comprehensive programme of support…
Also -
Acting on the basis of evidence, rather than on the basis of what appears to be logical, is one of the cornerstones of the “way of working”and here there is an important function to ensure that managers and their teams use the information and data available to its full potential. 

The executive officers and many senior officers have worked for the council for 20 years plus. Are they responsible for the culture and mindset? To outsiders, the culture and mindset could be read as nepotism, bullying and collusion in cover up of bad decision making and even worse behaviours.

Then there is the Education Workplace Council investigation which found Foden guilty of unacceptable professional conduct. This alone should have been the end of him. What action, if any, was taken by the council and school governors at Ysgol Friars?

In early, 2022, a video was released online showing Foden appearing to grab a pupil by the scruff of the neck at Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, in Penygroes. What action, if any, was taken by the council and school governors at Dyffryn Nantlle?

This video was discussed by the Education and Economy Committee but no action appeared to have been taken by the then head of education, Garem Jackson,, nor the former Cabinet member for Education, Cemlyn Williams, at that time. It is believed that Elin Walker Jones, now Cabinet member for children was a member of this committee. Her knowledge of what the council knew of Neil Foden and the discussions that took place would be invaluable.

Something is so very, very wrong within Gwynedd council...