ICO Disclosure Log – Response IC-132080-Q6Y0
“What is happening with the Holden Report please?”
Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000 (the FOIA). As you are probably aware, this legislation provides public access to recorded information held by a public authority unless an appropriate exemption applies.
Our response
We do hold information with the scope of your request. As you may be aware the ICO issued a Decision Notice under the reference FS50882004 in June 2020 in which the Commissioner decided that
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was not entitled, under section 21 or section 41 of the FOIA to withhold the requested
information which was contained within the Holden Report, and required that it be disclosed, with personal data redacted.
The Health Board subsequently raised an appeal against the Commissioner’s decision which is now before the First-Tier Tribunal.
As the matter is now the subject of an appeal the Health Board is not required to disclose the report until the Tribunal issues its decision and depending on whether the Tribunal upholds the appeal
or not.
FOI review procedure
If you are dissatisfied and wish to request a review of our decision
or make a complaint about how your request has been handled you should write to the Information Access Team at the address below or e-mail icoaccessinformation@ico.org.uk.
Your request for internal review should be submitted to us within 40
working days of receipt by you of this response. Any such request
received after this time will only be considered at the discretion of
the Commissioner.
If having exhausted the review process you are not content that your request or review has been dealt with correctly, you have a further right of appeal to this office in our capacity as the statutory complaint handler under the legislation.
To make such an application, please write to our Customer Contact Team at the address given or visit our website if you wish to make a complaint under the FOIA.
Showing posts with label Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Show all posts
Saturday 23 October 2021
ICO Update On The Holden Report - Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Thursday 21 January 2021
Saturday 5 September 2020
Silence From Unison And Unite Trade Unions. #BCUHB
With regard to the Robin #Holden report into Institutional Abuse at #BCUHB dated 2013, snippets of the report have appeared in the media informing of staff in tears and at the end of their tether working in the North Wales NHS mental health units. Issues of bullying are also said to be raised within the report.
The Information Commissioner had ordered BCUHB to release the report but the Board have refused and are appealing the ICO's decision. The Tribunal has a date of early 2021...
Local Trade Union branches in North Wales were recently approached for their thoughts and reaction to the report by the North Wales Community Health Council into Vascular services at BCUHB and in particular the worry of increased limb loss amongst patients. The use of antibiotics was also raised as a concern.
That report, dated 8th October, 2019, can be found here -
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/documents/900/Exec%20Minutes%2008102019%20%28APPROVED%29.pdf
It is a PDF document that will not open a new page but will be downloaded to your pc.
#Unison branches in the area were reluctant to give any response, some did not even acknowledge the question of if they were going to make a public statement on the damning report.
The decision by the local union officers to make no statement regarding the treatment of staff and the patients within the health board has come as a surprise to many members, especially after the shocking revelations now being made in the local press.
Now I may have expected too much from Unison as I am not a member so I approached my own union, Unite.
An acknowledgment was received from the BCU branch secretary and senior workplace rep, with regard to my inquiry, excerpts of which are reproduced below -
...concerns come through the recent review of the Board's Vascular Services and in particular claims of those in fear for their careers if they speak out.
Have the Trade Unions had contact with the Board and what has been the response from senior managers within the organisation - if any ?
There is also the issue of the Board discharging 1700 mental health patients from their services and the LA's having to pick up the pieces - during the lockdown.
The senior workplace rep, duly responded and on the 2nd June, said that they would be discussing with the regional officers and get back to me.
By early August, there had been no further response. I then came across a discussion on Twitter involving the Holden report and tagged both local Unison and Unite accounts into the thread hoping one would join in the conversation.
Whilst Unison did not respond - Unite simply blocked me...
The Unite rep did eventually get back to me via Facebook -
"As you are not a member of the BCU branch and you are not an employee of BCUHB I can’t provide you with that information im afraid. If you require information you will need to address your concerns to the Regional Secretary Peter Hughes at the Cardiff Office."
Any union members that have concerns regarding work practices or whistleblowing in BCUHB may be better informing the regional organisers outside of the BCUHB region. The same goes for any Unison or Unite members within the local government organisations of North Wales.
The Unite rep did eventually get back to me via Facebook -
"As you are not a member of the BCU branch and you are not an employee of BCUHB I can’t provide you with that information im afraid. If you require information you will need to address your concerns to the Regional Secretary Peter Hughes at the Cardiff Office."
Any union members that have concerns regarding work practices or whistleblowing in BCUHB may be better informing the regional organisers outside of the BCUHB region. The same goes for any Unison or Unite members within the local government organisations of North Wales.
Something is very wrong within the local government organisations of North Wales.
Thursday 13 August 2020
Tawel Fan And The Hascas Report - #BCUHB
As we await the latest, taxpayer funded, shenanigans employed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in their attempt to conceal the #Holden report into institutional abuse at the #Hergest mental health unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd, it may be useful to take a look at a more recent report into North Wales mental health units.
One such report is the - 'Independent Investigation into the Care and Treatment Provided on Tawel Fan Ward: a Lessons for Learning Report.'dated May,2018.
There appears to be a disconnect between part one of the report - excerpts in italics - and the report's final findings and conclusions reached. When the report was released, there were many vocal cries of a coverup and a whitewash.
The Investigation was commissioned initially to examine specific concerns raised by some 23 families about the care and treatment received by their loved ones between January 2007 and December 2013...... In order to identify any other patients whose care and treatment might have fallen below an acceptable standard the Investigation was also asked to examine the archives developed during the following prior processes:
The majority of witnesses who were called to give evidence cooperated freely with the Investigation; however a significant number (some 20 percent) did not.
At the inception of the Investigation it was thought that the archives of all prior inquiry and review processes were complete, available and ready for analysis; this was not the case. It took 14 months (from August 2015 to October 2016) for the complete North Wales Police archive to be made available to the Investigation.
There were also ongoing issues in accessing a complete set of formal concerns, incident and safeguarding documentation from both BCUHB and the Local Authorities. Some of this information was only made available to the Investigation as late as July 2017.
The Investigation Panel expected to source documentation from ‘locked down’ archives when the work commenced. At the inception of any NHS investigation there is a requirement that all pertinent documents are identified, recalled and secured; this is commonly known as the ‘lock down process’
...Continued security and monitored access is essential to make certain confidential documents are stored safely so that no suggestion of tampering with evidence can be made against either the organisation or an individual, during the course of an investigation, or at any point in the future.
The Investigation Panel was surprised to find that (initially) documents had not been formally ‘locked down’ in accordance with commonly accepted NHS good practice.
Ockenden External Investigation: a file of documents was provided to the Investigation by BCUHB. However on close examination the archive did not appear to be complete. This was resolved by establishing direct contact with Donna Ockenden and no further delays were incurred.
North Wales Police Investigation: the original archive given to the Investigation had been provided directly to BCUHB by the North Wales Police. The assumption was made by the Health Board that this archive contained copies of all statements provided by its staff together with those provided by the families of patients who had been admitted to Tawel Fan ward between January 2011 and December 2013; at this stage BCUHB thought the archive was complete.
On close examination it became evident to the Investigation Panel that this was not the case.
...During November 2015 discussions were held between the Investigation Chair and the North Wales Police to establish how many statements were missing from the archive given to BCUHB. There ensued a long process which entailed multiple discussions, meetings and written communications.
Eventually at the end of May 2016 the North Wales Police allowed members of the Investigation Panel (via a supervised read at the Police Head Quarters) access to a further 70 witness statements
As a result of this supervised read another 20 patients were identified where families had either clearly raised concerns about the care and treatment provided on Tawel Fan ward, or where material within the statements related to matters which the Investigators determined required further investigation despite no explicit or direct complaint about the matter having been made.
Investigation Panel members were permitted to take brief notes at the Police Headquarters and to list the new patient names. It was agreed by the North Wales Police that the Investigation could share these names with BCUHB so that a search could commence for their clinical records. The Police held a full list of family contact details which it was prepared to share with BCUHB directly.
At this stage, however, the Police wanted to gain the consent of each individual who had given a statement prior to any further information sharing taking place with the Health Board and prior to the additional 70 statements being added to the archive.
The Investigation Panel worked initially with the following departments and organisations to establish a credible witness management process to ensure that all future investigation work adhered to United Kingdom best practice:
BCUHB Workforce and Organisational Development Directorate
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
The Royal College of Nursing
The British Medical Association
UNISON
Part one of the report concludes with this worrying paragraph. My emphasis in bold.
The Investigation conducted its work in private and communicated headline findings to BCUHB only towards the end of the investigation process. During the course of the Investigation corporate members of the Trust Board were called as witnesses. The Independent Oversight Panel ensured quality monitoring processes were deployed and held at arm’s length from the Health Board. This guaranteed that the work was completed in a satisfactory manner whilst maintaining the total integrity of the Investigation’s independence. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board received the report after all due process was completed and was not permitted to exert any influence over the Investigation or the report findings and conclusions.
********************
I have read and reread this statement several times and whilst I understand its inclusion its length and tone concerns me. Is there a history of BCUHB interference in investigations as other local government agencies in North Wales have done ?
My own experiences of 'independent' investigations in North Wales, where investigators are bullied and overwhelmed to alter critical reports, interference by senior managers in the process and staff that lie to cover for poor behaviour with the support of their managers leaves me sceptical of many reports published by local government and their agencies.
Would I trust the Hascas report ?
No - and it is my opinion that the reason BCUHB is fighting tooth and nail not to publish the Robin Holden report is because it will simply confirm the claims of some staff and witnesses to the alleged institutional abuse within the North Wales mental health units.
The link to the full report can be found here - HASCAS report, May 2018 (eng).pdf
The file is a PDF document and will be downloaded to your computer and not open as a new web page.
One such report is the - 'Independent Investigation into the Care and Treatment Provided on Tawel Fan Ward: a Lessons for Learning Report.'dated May,2018.
There appears to be a disconnect between part one of the report - excerpts in italics - and the report's final findings and conclusions reached. When the report was released, there were many vocal cries of a coverup and a whitewash.
The Investigation was commissioned initially to examine specific concerns raised by some 23 families about the care and treatment received by their loved ones between January 2007 and December 2013...... In order to identify any other patients whose care and treatment might have fallen below an acceptable standard the Investigation was also asked to examine the archives developed during the following prior processes:
The majority of witnesses who were called to give evidence cooperated freely with the Investigation; however a significant number (some 20 percent) did not.
At the inception of the Investigation it was thought that the archives of all prior inquiry and review processes were complete, available and ready for analysis; this was not the case. It took 14 months (from August 2015 to October 2016) for the complete North Wales Police archive to be made available to the Investigation.
There were also ongoing issues in accessing a complete set of formal concerns, incident and safeguarding documentation from both BCUHB and the Local Authorities. Some of this information was only made available to the Investigation as late as July 2017.
The Investigation Panel expected to source documentation from ‘locked down’ archives when the work commenced. At the inception of any NHS investigation there is a requirement that all pertinent documents are identified, recalled and secured; this is commonly known as the ‘lock down process’
...Continued security and monitored access is essential to make certain confidential documents are stored safely so that no suggestion of tampering with evidence can be made against either the organisation or an individual, during the course of an investigation, or at any point in the future.
The Investigation Panel was surprised to find that (initially) documents had not been formally ‘locked down’ in accordance with commonly accepted NHS good practice.
Ockenden External Investigation: a file of documents was provided to the Investigation by BCUHB. However on close examination the archive did not appear to be complete. This was resolved by establishing direct contact with Donna Ockenden and no further delays were incurred.
North Wales Police Investigation: the original archive given to the Investigation had been provided directly to BCUHB by the North Wales Police. The assumption was made by the Health Board that this archive contained copies of all statements provided by its staff together with those provided by the families of patients who had been admitted to Tawel Fan ward between January 2011 and December 2013; at this stage BCUHB thought the archive was complete.
On close examination it became evident to the Investigation Panel that this was not the case.
...During November 2015 discussions were held between the Investigation Chair and the North Wales Police to establish how many statements were missing from the archive given to BCUHB. There ensued a long process which entailed multiple discussions, meetings and written communications.
Eventually at the end of May 2016 the North Wales Police allowed members of the Investigation Panel (via a supervised read at the Police Head Quarters) access to a further 70 witness statements
As a result of this supervised read another 20 patients were identified where families had either clearly raised concerns about the care and treatment provided on Tawel Fan ward, or where material within the statements related to matters which the Investigators determined required further investigation despite no explicit or direct complaint about the matter having been made.
Investigation Panel members were permitted to take brief notes at the Police Headquarters and to list the new patient names. It was agreed by the North Wales Police that the Investigation could share these names with BCUHB so that a search could commence for their clinical records. The Police held a full list of family contact details which it was prepared to share with BCUHB directly.
At this stage, however, the Police wanted to gain the consent of each individual who had given a statement prior to any further information sharing taking place with the Health Board and prior to the additional 70 statements being added to the archive.
The Investigation Panel worked initially with the following departments and organisations to establish a credible witness management process to ensure that all future investigation work adhered to United Kingdom best practice:
BCUHB Workforce and Organisational Development Directorate
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
The Royal College of Nursing
The British Medical Association
UNISON
Part one of the report concludes with this worrying paragraph. My emphasis in bold.
The Investigation conducted its work in private and communicated headline findings to BCUHB only towards the end of the investigation process. During the course of the Investigation corporate members of the Trust Board were called as witnesses. The Independent Oversight Panel ensured quality monitoring processes were deployed and held at arm’s length from the Health Board. This guaranteed that the work was completed in a satisfactory manner whilst maintaining the total integrity of the Investigation’s independence. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board received the report after all due process was completed and was not permitted to exert any influence over the Investigation or the report findings and conclusions.
********************
I have read and reread this statement several times and whilst I understand its inclusion its length and tone concerns me. Is there a history of BCUHB interference in investigations as other local government agencies in North Wales have done ?
My own experiences of 'independent' investigations in North Wales, where investigators are bullied and overwhelmed to alter critical reports, interference by senior managers in the process and staff that lie to cover for poor behaviour with the support of their managers leaves me sceptical of many reports published by local government and their agencies.
Would I trust the Hascas report ?
No - and it is my opinion that the reason BCUHB is fighting tooth and nail not to publish the Robin Holden report is because it will simply confirm the claims of some staff and witnesses to the alleged institutional abuse within the North Wales mental health units.
The link to the full report can be found here - HASCAS report, May 2018 (eng).pdf
The file is a PDF document and will be downloaded to your computer and not open as a new web page.
Thursday 28 May 2020
More Problems With Data - #BCUHB North Wales.
One week ago, the interim CEO of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board
reported that between 200-300 Mental Health patients had been 'wrongly
discharged'.
From the BBC -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52729237
Simon Dean, stated the decision was an "error that should not have occurred".
Who is responsible for making the decision to discharge nearly 1700 vulnerable people and how was it done ? Phone call ? Letter ?
Once again, the Board has failed in its reporting of accurate information.
Today's, BBC article reveals more of the reality of the situation -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52827479#
The true figure is 1,694.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, received a letter from the Board with the corrected figures.
Along with yet another apology from Simon Dean -
"I would like to say how sorry I am for any distress that may have been caused."
Figures from the third sector Mental Health services, such as Mind Cymru and Hafal show a four fold increase in calls from patients seeking support.
Support which many in North Wales report as non-existent or so poor to be of little use - for years.
Mental Health services encompass not only Health services but Social Care, too. Disability services may also be involved. Some patients may even require Safeguarding.
Why no statement from the Local Authorities's in North Wales concerning BCUHB's decision and the extra pressure that LA's would come under by nearly 1700 vulnerable people being discharged ?
What of the private Care Homes whose clients will include vulnerable people with Learning Difficulties or Acquired Brain Injury ? Have they been discharged ?
Figures for those who have died during this pandemic in these Care Homes must be made public ?
Along with data for Care homes for the elderly.
Now it is usual in these circumstances that Board members resign.
No resignations should be accepted at this time.
What is needed is a public inquiry into the failings of the Board and the Senior Managers over the five years it has now been in special measures - lumbering the taxpayer with £60 Million of debt this year alone.
Where is the voice of those workers on the ground who know of the problems ?
Statements from the local Trade Unions would be very interesting.
#Unison #Unite
From the BBC -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52729237
Simon Dean, stated the decision was an "error that should not have occurred".
Who is responsible for making the decision to discharge nearly 1700 vulnerable people and how was it done ? Phone call ? Letter ?
Once again, the Board has failed in its reporting of accurate information.
Today's, BBC article reveals more of the reality of the situation -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52827479#
The true figure is 1,694.
Rhun ap Iorwerth, MS for Ynys Môn, received a letter from the Board with the corrected figures.
Along with yet another apology from Simon Dean -
"I would like to say how sorry I am for any distress that may have been caused."
Figures from the third sector Mental Health services, such as Mind Cymru and Hafal show a four fold increase in calls from patients seeking support.
Support which many in North Wales report as non-existent or so poor to be of little use - for years.
Mental Health services encompass not only Health services but Social Care, too. Disability services may also be involved. Some patients may even require Safeguarding.
Why no statement from the Local Authorities's in North Wales concerning BCUHB's decision and the extra pressure that LA's would come under by nearly 1700 vulnerable people being discharged ?
What of the private Care Homes whose clients will include vulnerable people with Learning Difficulties or Acquired Brain Injury ? Have they been discharged ?
Figures for those who have died during this pandemic in these Care Homes must be made public ?
Along with data for Care homes for the elderly.
Now it is usual in these circumstances that Board members resign.
No resignations should be accepted at this time.
What is needed is a public inquiry into the failings of the Board and the Senior Managers over the five years it has now been in special measures - lumbering the taxpayer with £60 Million of debt this year alone.
Where is the voice of those workers on the ground who know of the problems ?
Statements from the local Trade Unions would be very interesting.
#Unison #Unite
Tuesday 26 May 2020
Failings Within North Wales Vascular Services - #BCUHB
The Extraordinary Meeting of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board held on the 21st May, 2020, to discuss the Review of its Vascular Services was a complete shambles.
From the 'technical' difficulties experienced through to the final decision by the Board to review the Review. Were part of the technical difficulties caused by some Board Members complaining they were not comfortable being on screen for the meeting ?
The Report - described as a whitewash by members of the public and some employees - is highly critical of the Health Board and its decision to close the vascular services at Ysbyty Gwynedd and centralise the service at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The Review raises many questions for diabetics and renal patients and some of the data for limb loss and antibiotic use should be of high concern for everyone.
Ultimately, it is yet another report into Local Government Organisations in North Wales that raises issues of bullying and staff fearing for their jobs if they speak out.
Sitting on the Board from Gwynedd are R. Medwyn Hughes, County Councillor for the Hendre ward, Bangor and Morwena Edwards, who is an Associate Director of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Morwena is also the Director of Cyngor Gwynedd Social Services - both Adult and Children's Departments.
There have been 5 Ombudsman for Wales Investigations highly critical of the departments that Mrs Edwards has overall responsibility for - in the last four years
There may be more as these Departments have a history of sitting on critical Reports, whilst trumpeting mediocrity.
One Ombudsman's Report highlights an Independent Investigating Officer feeling 'overwhelmed' and 'bullied' after a meeting with Head of Department, Marian Parry Hughes and the senior Operational Manager. Aled Gibbard amongst others to change the findings of her Report.
More on that here - https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2019/06/bullying-cyngor-gwynedd-council.html
Four to five pages regarding a Social Worker undertaking an inadequate assessment of an autistic child's needs and the withholding and censoring of personal information by a senior manager deleted along with Recommendations for improvement.
To someone with no knowledge everything looks rosy in the garden - the data is false.
Recommendations for improvement and to create a pathway for autistic individuals to receive support and SS assessment have been agreed to - so where is it ?
Concerns that the legal documents and data are being manipulated to cover for bad behaviour and poor management have been raised with a Cabinet Member but as yet no response has been forthcoming.
Now the Ombudsman for Wales had arranged a phone call conversation with the Director, Morwena Edwards, to discuss matters of non compliance of Ombudsman's recommendations.
This call was arranged three weeks in advance but the Council cancelled the meeting one hour before the arranged time and the Council told the Ombudsman that they would be sending a letter instead.
This letter did obviously not impress the Ombudsman as the CEO was then summoned to discuss non compliance - alongside other agenda items, in Cardiff.
Concerns have been raised that the story as explained by the CEO and the Senior Safeguarding Officer to a Gwynedd Care Scrutiny Committee is misleading. Questions have been asked concerning the truthfulness of the Officer's statements but no answer has been forthcoming.
Officer's promoted above their abilities ? A social worker being moved to a third sector organisation to protect reputations ? - and their pension ? Social workers lying and senior managers colluding in cover up ?
All that is missing is a sex scandal.....
Something is very wrong within both Gwynedd Council and BCUHB.
From the 'technical' difficulties experienced through to the final decision by the Board to review the Review. Were part of the technical difficulties caused by some Board Members complaining they were not comfortable being on screen for the meeting ?
The Report - described as a whitewash by members of the public and some employees - is highly critical of the Health Board and its decision to close the vascular services at Ysbyty Gwynedd and centralise the service at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The Review raises many questions for diabetics and renal patients and some of the data for limb loss and antibiotic use should be of high concern for everyone.
Ultimately, it is yet another report into Local Government Organisations in North Wales that raises issues of bullying and staff fearing for their jobs if they speak out.
Sitting on the Board from Gwynedd are R. Medwyn Hughes, County Councillor for the Hendre ward, Bangor and Morwena Edwards, who is an Associate Director of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Morwena is also the Director of Cyngor Gwynedd Social Services - both Adult and Children's Departments.
There have been 5 Ombudsman for Wales Investigations highly critical of the departments that Mrs Edwards has overall responsibility for - in the last four years
There may be more as these Departments have a history of sitting on critical Reports, whilst trumpeting mediocrity.
One Ombudsman's Report highlights an Independent Investigating Officer feeling 'overwhelmed' and 'bullied' after a meeting with Head of Department, Marian Parry Hughes and the senior Operational Manager. Aled Gibbard amongst others to change the findings of her Report.
More on that here - https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2019/06/bullying-cyngor-gwynedd-council.html
Four to five pages regarding a Social Worker undertaking an inadequate assessment of an autistic child's needs and the withholding and censoring of personal information by a senior manager deleted along with Recommendations for improvement.
To someone with no knowledge everything looks rosy in the garden - the data is false.
Recommendations for improvement and to create a pathway for autistic individuals to receive support and SS assessment have been agreed to - so where is it ?
Concerns that the legal documents and data are being manipulated to cover for bad behaviour and poor management have been raised with a Cabinet Member but as yet no response has been forthcoming.
Now the Ombudsman for Wales had arranged a phone call conversation with the Director, Morwena Edwards, to discuss matters of non compliance of Ombudsman's recommendations.
This call was arranged three weeks in advance but the Council cancelled the meeting one hour before the arranged time and the Council told the Ombudsman that they would be sending a letter instead.
This letter did obviously not impress the Ombudsman as the CEO was then summoned to discuss non compliance - alongside other agenda items, in Cardiff.
Concerns have been raised that the story as explained by the CEO and the Senior Safeguarding Officer to a Gwynedd Care Scrutiny Committee is misleading. Questions have been asked concerning the truthfulness of the Officer's statements but no answer has been forthcoming.
Officer's promoted above their abilities ? A social worker being moved to a third sector organisation to protect reputations ? - and their pension ? Social workers lying and senior managers colluding in cover up ?
All that is missing is a sex scandal.....
Something is very wrong within both Gwynedd Council and BCUHB.
Sunday 16 February 2020
Ombudsman For Wales 'Outraged' With Cyngor Gwynedd Council.
In Cyngor Gwynedd translated Minutes. senior officers openly admit that the
Ombudsman is 'outraged' with them and the CEO, Dilwyn Williams, statement gave some detail, for example -
"That this had been an extremely difficult case, and as the Department had not experienced many cases in which the Ombudsman had decided against it, it was possible that we had not been successful in changing our operating principles to what the Ombudsman would have liked to have seen."
To my knowledge there are now FIVE Ombudsman for Wales Reports that have found against Gwynedd Council over the last four years - the most recent was published, last month, in the public interest, as a vulnerable person died.
(The link to this latest Report can be found at the bottom of the page)
The CEO is made aware of any Ombudsman's investigations by the Ombudsman himself and would have read the draft report(s) - all relevant departments are given the opportunity to comment and/or challenge any errors before publication.
What of all the council department's documents and Annual reports that should have alerted Councillors and the public to the systemic failings found within the council - over the years?
All written by the same officer's responsible for the systemic failings and maladministration.
One Report from 2018 is being sat on and has still to be presented for scrutiny by Adult Social Services.
In the meeting's other news, four council reports were presented for scrutiny - not one contained good news.
It is disturbing that of the four reports presented to the Committee not one senior officer reported on a fundamental change to the Children's Derwen criteria.
Derwen is a partnership between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Gwynedd Council’s Social Services and now Anglesey Specialist Children's Services.
The Council has finally been forced to apply the defintion of disability as defined under the Equality Act, 2010 when assessing the needs of children.
The CEO's statement does reference non compliance with recommendations from previous Ombudsman's Investigations, but is poorly written and makes little sense
"As there had also been confusion regarding the wording of one of the Ombudsman’s recommendations relating to the parents' assessment, we also did not comply with another clause which we had agreed to implement"
There was no confusion regarding the wording. The Ombudsman's wording is simple and clearly written.
The updated Derwen Policy can be found here -
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Health-and-social-care/Hwb-teuluoedd/Integrated-Team-for-Disabled-Children.aspx
Local solicitors and advice groups take note.
(It is advisable to make hard copies)
The Ombudsman for Wales Report,dated January,2020, can be find below -
It finds against Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymru and BCUHB.
https://rhagolwg.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Final-Public-Interest-Report.pdf
Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council.
"That this had been an extremely difficult case, and as the Department had not experienced many cases in which the Ombudsman had decided against it, it was possible that we had not been successful in changing our operating principles to what the Ombudsman would have liked to have seen."
To my knowledge there are now FIVE Ombudsman for Wales Reports that have found against Gwynedd Council over the last four years - the most recent was published, last month, in the public interest, as a vulnerable person died.
(The link to this latest Report can be found at the bottom of the page)
The CEO is made aware of any Ombudsman's investigations by the Ombudsman himself and would have read the draft report(s) - all relevant departments are given the opportunity to comment and/or challenge any errors before publication.
What of all the council department's documents and Annual reports that should have alerted Councillors and the public to the systemic failings found within the council - over the years?
All written by the same officer's responsible for the systemic failings and maladministration.
One Report from 2018 is being sat on and has still to be presented for scrutiny by Adult Social Services.
In the meeting's other news, four council reports were presented for scrutiny - not one contained good news.
It is disturbing that of the four reports presented to the Committee not one senior officer reported on a fundamental change to the Children's Derwen criteria.
Derwen is a partnership between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Gwynedd Council’s Social Services and now Anglesey Specialist Children's Services.
The Council has finally been forced to apply the defintion of disability as defined under the Equality Act, 2010 when assessing the needs of children.
The CEO's statement does reference non compliance with recommendations from previous Ombudsman's Investigations, but is poorly written and makes little sense
"As there had also been confusion regarding the wording of one of the Ombudsman’s recommendations relating to the parents' assessment, we also did not comply with another clause which we had agreed to implement"
There was no confusion regarding the wording. The Ombudsman's wording is simple and clearly written.
The updated Derwen Policy can be found here -
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Health-and-social-care/Hwb-teuluoedd/Integrated-Team-for-Disabled-Children.aspx
Local solicitors and advice groups take note.
(It is advisable to make hard copies)
The Ombudsman for Wales Report,dated January,2020, can be find below -
It finds against Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymru and BCUHB.
https://rhagolwg.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Final-Public-Interest-Report.pdf
Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council.
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