Illegal Care Homes, Missing Children And Dementia - Cyngor Gwynedd...

Cyngor Gwynedd's care scrutiny committee held a meeting on the 5th November, 2026.

Yet again, there were issues which meant that there was no translated feed for the first 14 minutes of the meeting. The webcast can be viewed here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1110372

There was the Update on the Progress of the Response Plan: Our Bravery Brought Justice.
Gwynedd CEO, Dafydd Gibbard, reports that most of the recommendations have been implemented.

The report can be found in the agenda pack for the meeting -  
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g6831/Public%20reports%20pack%2005th-Nov-2026%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

But it was not policies and procedures that failed to stop the paedophile, Neil Foden.
It was the culture within schools and the council that protected him from censure. 

This culture is mentioned in the update report -  
Further work continues on more long-term matters related to culture change, measuring impact and embedding improvements sustainably. In any programme of significant change such as this, elements such as embedding culture are ones that will need to continue for a significant period of time and will need to be continually revisited over the coming years.  

But what exactly is the 'culture' that needs changing?
Gibbard does not give an explanation...

The adults SS gave their performance report presented by Dilwyn Morgan.
He updated the committee that the proposed Bro Lleu development in Penygroes, that was to be a health and well-being hub, integrating a doctors surgery, a care home, independent housing and more was downgraded to a health hub only.  

The department's report includes - 
2.2.5 The aim of the project is to ensure prompt and easy support for individuals and their families. That includes recognising the value of unpaid carers and supporting them appropriately and ensuring timely and effective home care.
2.2.10 There are many workstreams currently underway to ensure more resources to evaluate the needs of patients in hospital and to speed up care and discharge decisions,with dedicated resource from each team now responsible for assessing hospital cases.

The report does not hide the fact that there is no 'prompt and easy support for individuals and their families', nor is there support for unpaid carers unless you pass the SS assessment. It is well known that assessments carried out by Gwynedd social workers have been 'predetermined to fail'.  

 

The number of people awaiting Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) assessments has not been recorded due to the new criteria that is to be decided after the Cheshire West ruling. Should the council not be worried for the vulnerable people affected?

22 individuals had been waiting over 91 days for a care needs assessment from the Older People, Physical and Sensory Disabilities Service. 

One care home in the county has been under an embargo which means no new admissions until the issues have been remedied. No other information was given. 

More corridor care..?
The department's failings to provide adequate social care in Gwynedd will also mean continued bed blocking in hospitals and more strain on the NHS.

Support for those with dementia...??
Mari Wynne Jones, the head of Gwynedd's adult SS, made mention that those with dementia could learn new tricks.
Jones did not give an explanation as to how this medical miracle will be achieved. 

Morgan concludes the annual performance report with -
The report has been created based on the information provided and the content of a recent meeting to challenge and support the performance of the Department for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, with the Director, Head of Department, Assistant Heads and myself attending this meeting. 

The children's department then gave their annual performance report presented by Menna Trenholme.
Sharron Williams Carter, the head of children's SS and Aled Gibbard, Assistant Head Resources, were present to answer questions of the committee. 

Trenholme begins with an update on the Autism plan. 
Her report gives the impression that the council is supporting autistic individuals and their families - this is not exactly the case - is it? 

A reminder that the Autism plan was to support autistic children and adults WITHOUT a learning disability, who were and still are falling through the gap in services.

Trenholme warns that the funding for this service ends in 2027. 
It is hoped that she and the department are preparing a case for extra funding from Welsh government to fully implement the recommendations from the Hugh Morgan OBE review that came about after a Stage 2 and Ombudsman for Wales complaints that were upheld. 
Perhaps the scrutiny committee could ask Morgan to evaluate the work of the council since his review..?

Has cyngor Gwynedd published Morgan's review on their website and has it been scrutinised or even seen by councillors?

Missing children...
Worryingly, the SS reports -
In addition, we saw good collaboration since April 2026 to be able to report on returning home interviews after children or young people were identified as missing. 55 children have been identified as missing children over the period, and 164 returning home interviews have been held. 

Neither the cabinet member nor the department clarified how many children are still missing... 

Trenholme also gives an update on the small group homes scheme for looked after children.  
The home in Morfa Bychan, with two children living in it, has now been registered and is no longer an illegal enterprise.

The home in Deiniolen, also houses two children, but is still not registered and so not open to inspections by outside agencies to check on the wellbeing of these children.
Two children also live in the home in Criccieth. This has also not been registered.

An unregistered home is not only unsafe for residents but also illegal. 
It is a criminal offence to operate such homes without registration...

Aled Gibbard, who is responsible for the group homes scheme alongside, Shelley Williams, appeared very uncomfortable during this segment of the meeting. His hand hovered continuously over the microphone ready to jump in, and he even pressed the button a couple of times by mistake. Sharron Williams Carter, the head of department noticed this and asked if he had anything to contribute - Gibbard declined.

To Gibbard's relief, committee members did not mention the legality of the homes. 
Perhaps they are unaware of the true situation..?

As with the adults SS, the children's report was based on information received at one meeting only.

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Revolving Doors - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd council are advertising for a new head of the children's SS department.

The job is paying £84,480 - £93,163 a year, which is a lot less than the £104,15, the former head, Marian Parry Hughes was 'earning' last year.
The highest-paid council employees in Gwynedd and Anglesey
https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/25065053.highest-paid-council-employees-gwynedd-anglesey/

Hughes failed to act when concerns were raised against Neil Foden in 2019. 
The former headteacher of Ysgol Friars, in Bangor was finally arrested for sexually abusing children in September 2023.

Hughes leadership has been dogged with controversy since the farce of Canolfan Brynffynnon. Then there was the Ombudsman for Wales report highlighting the department's ignorance of law, policy and procedures. The PSOW recommendations for improvement were not acted upon...

Untrained social workers/senior officers...
Dilwyn Morgan, the former cabinet member for children, did raise concerns about a lack of training within the department in 2021 - 'it would frighten you how few members of staff undertake these training.'
What action did Morgan, now cabinet member for adults take..?

No outsiders allowed..?
Cyngor Gwynedd are advertising the position internally, 'for a period of 6 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to 12 months...'

Does this mean that one of the interim heads of the department, Aled Gibbard or Sharron Williams Carter, is next in line to take the reins? 

What next for Gwynedd's assistant head - safeguarding and quality also what next for the senior officer within the legal team? 
Both knew about Foden in 2019.

Something is still very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Where Are The Children? - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd's care scrutiny committee meet on Thursday, 29th January, 2026. The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=394&MId=5671

The meeting will discuss the 'Keeping Families Together Strategy' co-authored by Sharron Williams Carter, the interim head of children's SS and Gwenan Medi Hughes, Sue Layton and Caren Brown. 

A report from the Youth Justice Service, authored by Stephen Wood, will be presented.

Eighteen months ago, senior officers of the YJS were criticised by HM Inspectorate of Probation. The link to their report shows 'Page not found' but an archived version can be found here -
 
https://web.archive.org/web/20240312162338/https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/08/An-inspection-of-youth-justice-services-in-Gwynedd-Ynys-Mon.pdf

An excerpt from the HMIP report –
Assessment work to identify and analyse risks to the child’s safety and wellbeing was much weaker. Practitioners, while generally accessing information well, did not use the information from other agencies regularly. We identified failures to appropriately consider or respond to exploitation concerns and suggest this is an area that requires additional training, understanding and focus by the service. Inspectors did not agree with almost half of the risk classifications made by case managers. 

In June, 2024, the same time as the HMIP report, cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet met to discuss the 'Performance Report for Children and Supporting Families' presented by the former cabinet member for children, Elin Walker-Jones. 
Main discussion points were the Small Group Homes scheme and the Autism Plan. The agenda pack can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5221/Public%20reports%20pack%2011th-Jun-2024%2013.00%20The%20Cabinet.pdf?T=10

Aled Gibbard answered questions of the cabinet members.
Councillors asked what happens when these children reach the age of 18. 
Gibbard replied that the council no longer have a responsibility for these children.

In his latest report ,16+ Team (Leaving Care), the interim head of SS now states -
While the young person is under 18, they are treated as children in care.
When they turn eighteen they become Care Leavers and are the responsibility of the local authority until they are 25 years old.

If true, this change of policy and alignment with law is to be welcomed but exactly what support will be given to care leavers?

In recent meetings, the council has scrutinised safeguarding practices and repeatedly emphasised the importance of listening to the child’s voice. There have been assurances that this will be the number one priority through not only the SS departments, but all council departments

Is it not of concern then that the 16+ service report states -  
5. Consultation
5.1 We have not consulted with service users for the purposes of this report.

It is not just the' voice of the child' that is missing...
But the child...
They can not all be refugees and even if they were - where are they?

Gibbard also relies on the Population Needs Assessment.
Some people remember the meeting of the care scrutiny committee on the 3rd February, 2022, which accepted the document.
Gwynedd's contribution to the North Wales Population Needs Assessment was ...incomplete.

Dafydd Meurig presented the document and concerns were raised that few people were responding with requests for information – surveys etc and that not all data was positive to the services...
The document along with the agenda pack for 2022 can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/documents/g4539/Public%20reports%20pack%2003rd-Feb-2022%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

If officers were not blaming residents they were blaming covid.
The data is worthless but councillors thanked the officers for their honesty and voted to accept the document anyway. Of the councillors present - 

Councillor Eryl Jones-Williams (Chair)
Councillor Angela Russell (Vice-chair)
Councillors: Menna Baines, Beca Brown, Anwen J. Davies, Alan Jones Evans, Richard Medwyn Hughes, Gareth Tudor Morris Jones, Linda Ann Jones, Olaf Cai Larsen, Linda Morgan, Beth Lawton and Dafydd Owen.

Only one voted against with another abstaining. The rest voted it through. 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ Delayed Yet Again - Neil Foden Cyngor Gwynedd...

The Gwynedd Child Practice Review into paedophile headteacher Neil Foden, first due in early Spring, then late Spring, then September has been delayed yet again - 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp98739vz49o

‘Our Bravery Brought Justice' review led by Jan Pickles, appears to have been usurped by the North Wales Safeguarding Board, which released a statement on its website - 

The North Wales Safeguarding Board have made the decision to delay the publication of the Gwynedd Child Practice Review this month as it considers its legal obligations and information sharing further.
https://www.northwalessafeguardingboard.wales/gwynedd-child-practice-review/

The NWSB is made up of senior officers from various organisations including local councils, North Wales Police, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Probation service.
https://www.northwalessafeguardingboard.wales/nwsab-members/

Cyngor Gwynedd's Corporate Director and their Head of Adults SS sit on the board.

There is considerable anger with the delay and, for many, it shows little thought for the survivors and their families, more an exercise in protecting reputations? 

Class actions against the council...
In other news, the Neil Foden case is still deemed a risk to the council by Gwynedd's Governance and Audit committee held on the 11th September. Article 4 was also highlighted as a risk but no mention of Canolfan Brynffynnon. Is that case also considered a risk?

Gwynedd's head of Finance also presented the draft accounts to the committee. They show money in reserves to be £592 million and usable reserves of £137 million...

Governance and Audit is the most important committee of a council and it is a surprise that cyngor Gwynedd do not webcast the meeting. The meetings, held over Zoom, are recorded but not available for later viewing by councillors nor the public. Not one member asked about the turmoil within the children's SS department, with senior officers still 'absent from work'.

Due to the make up of the G&A committee, not all members may be privy to the disclosures to councillors so it was disappointing that the Care Scrutiny committee, held on the 25th September, did not ask the interim head of children services, Aled Gibbard, if services were being affected. Hasn't the director of SS raised concerns..?

The agenda pack and SS Annual Complaints Handling reports can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5530/Public%20reports%20pack%2025th-Sep-2025%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The report mirrors last years report, presented by the senior safeguarding officer, Dafydd Paul. It gives little information on the nature of the complaints and, as before, tries to divert attention by attacking vexatious customers. A reminder that the way senior officers report is not always accurate... 

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

Cyngor Gwynedd Council - "I'm not claiming that the way we're reporting is completely accurate..."

Cyngor Gwynedd  held an Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee meeting on Thursday, 19th June 2025. The webcast of the meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/993870

The Task and Finish Group recommendations for Gwynedd council's Draft Education Language Policy - Cyngor Gwynedd Language Strategy 2023 - 2033 were discussed. There has been a recent push by councillors for schools to be taught through the medium of Welsh only...

The recommendations can be found in the agenda pack here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5496/Public%20reports%20pack%2019th-Jun-2025%2010.30%20Education%20and%20Economy%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

On the 16th June, the Planning Commiittee held a meeting. That webcast can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/992005

The meeting discussed an application for an 'affordable self build' house in Penygroes. It has been refused in the past but the local councillor called it in for a debate. The councillor did not attend the meeting...
The recommendation was to refuse with the department citing three reasons including a lack of communication with the applicant. For reasons unknown some councillors wished to support the application anyway. The application was refused... 

Gwynedd's Care Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 12th June 2025.
The webcast can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/991166

A performance report from the head of Housing and Property department, Carys Fôn Williams, was presented. 

Next up was the performance report of the children and supporting families department, presented by cabinet member, Menna Trenholme.
With Marian Parry Hughes absent from work, it was left to the interim heads, Aled Gibbard and Sharron Carter Williams, to answer members questions. 

The department's report makes no mention of the absences of two of its most senior officers and not one scrutiny member raised concerns. 

Morfa Bychan was discussed. The children's home should have been open last year. and whilst children have been placed there, the home is still not registered...

Councillor Beth Lawton raised concerns that according to the graphics in the report the interim heads had no concerns with the department at all. Lawton pointed out that there were concerns and described the Derwen service and its workload as huge.
Gibbard replied "I'm not claiming that the way we're reporting is completely accurate..." 

Councillor Gwynfor Owen asked the officers for the criteria that allows access to the disabled children's service. He was told, a learning disability and those with a substantial delay. Owen also asked if access to Derwen services was dependant on IQ. Gibbard replied no... 
Some parents have been told exactly that...

 
The Derwen criteria has been called out as unlawful in the past and in 2019, the Ombudsman for Wales recommendation was - 
The Council should review its Derwen policy to ensure its criteria aligns with the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 and the Equality Act 2010’s definition of ‘disability’, and ensure staff are informed about any changes (within three months). 

What of the Hugh Morgan Autism Review? 
Have his recommendations been implemented? Perhaps Mr Morgan could be asked for his thoughts on 'progress' since his review?
His review can be found here -
https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/finally-gwynedd-councils-autism-report.html

Moving on, the report states that the purpose of the performance report is 'to present the performance of the Children and Supporting Families Department over the past year.'

But then states 'the report has been created based on the information and content of the latest meeting to challenge and support the performance of the Children and Supporting Families Department with the Director, the Senior Operational Officer and myself present at this meeting.'

So not over the past year? Only since the 'latest meeting' - whenever that was...?

The performance report for the Adults SS was also presented.

For what they're worth the reports can be found in the agenda pack here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5531/Public%20reports%20pack%2012th-Jun-2025%2010.00%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

In other news, Cyngor Gwynedd is advertising for a Corporate Director.
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Jobs-and-Careers/Corporate-Director.aspx

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does 'Absent From Work' Mean Suspended? - Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

The publication of the Jan Pickles review, first due in spring, then late spring has been delayed again and is now expected in September...
https://www.northwalessafeguardingboard.wales/gwynedd-child-practice-review/

Cyngor Gwynedd has still not published the Genevieve Woods report received in March.
The barrister was commissioned by the council to investigate the council's handling of matters relating to  paedophile Neil Foden in 2019. A teacher from Ysgol Friars blew the whistle to Garem Jackson, former head of education at the council, who then sought the advice of a council safeguarding officer.

From the BBC -
Top officials at council which employed paedophile head 'absent from work'
An email sent to Gwynedd councillors by the authority's chief executive stated there were arrangements in place to lead its children and family support department while the head and deputy head are absent...

It goes on to add -
BBC Wales understands four members of staff were part of the decision not to investigate at the time, and a BBC Wales Investigates programme into the case revealed three of those were still employed by the council.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15nzl058z1o

The head of children and families is Marian Parry Hughes but who is the deputy head?

According to a recent FOI response, the children's SS department does not have a deputy head but names three assistant heads -
Aled Gibbard, Sharron Williams Carter and Dafydd Paul.
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/structure_chart_social_services_7/response/2917001/attach/html/5/Children%20Department%20Organisational%20Chart%202024.pdf.html

Two of the three assistant heads, Aled Gibbard and Sharron Williams Carter, have been given temporary leadership of the Children and Families Department under the guidance of the director of SS, Dylan Owen.

Does 'absent from work' mean suspended and what of the fourth officer?

Last year, Dafydd Gibbard, CEO of cyngor Gwynedd commissioned a report into the county's looked after children. When will that report be made public?

It is presumed this action was in response to the revelation by Dylan Owen, the director of SS, of one child costing £25K a week and another child living in a caravan...

Were any of Neil Foden's victims children that were in the care of the council?
Do the historic complaints from 2014, that the children's SS department reported last year, involve looked after children?

In other news, Aled Davies, the head of Gwynedd Adults SS department will leave his post in July when Mari Wynne Jones will take up the role. Jones is a social worker and has worked for the council for 25 years...

Something is still very wrong within Gwynedd council...

Cyngor Gwynedd Council Reinstate Officer After 9 Year Suspension...

Cyngor Gwynedd council will not (yet) release the report by the barrister, Genevieve Woods.
Woods report looks at the circumstances from 2019 and how senior officers dealt with concerns raised with regard to Neil Foden...

From a BBC article -
She looked at 2019 because, during Foden's trial, the council's former head of education Garem Jackson said that was when he made a senior safeguarding officer aware of concerns about Foden's "close relationship" with some teen girls.
He said he was advised there was no need for a formal investigation as no official complaint had been made.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2njvjwzko

In 2019, the Director of Gwynedd SS, with ultimate responsibility for safeguarding children was Morwena Edwards. Others with responsibility for safeguarding in the childrens department -
Marian Parry Hughes (Head of Children and Family)
Aled Gibbard (Assistant Head Children/Resources)
Dafydd Paul (Senior Safeguarding and Quality/complaints manager)

Edwards quit the council in 2022, at the same time a report was received into the Canolfan Brynffynnon referral unit, it is believed.

The PRU has made the news recently -
https://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/25090281.gwynedd-referral-unit-pupils-saw-staff-bullying-children/

Did these officers have knowledge of, or were any of them instrumental in the suspensions of three members of staff that lasted 9 years? It is reported that two of the staff members have taken redundancy and one is still employed by the council.

Gwynedd council actually dismissed the one officer...
A case against cyngor Gwynedd for wrongful dismissal was brought to Employment Tribunal. On the 23rd December, 2024, the case was struck out.
Because the council had reinstated the officer...

The tribunal hears evidence from both sides and then makes a judgement.
Judgement reports are detailed and give the names of officers involved.
Was the dismissed staff member reinstated to avoid details of the case becoming public knowledge and the officers involved being named?

Presumably, this case would have gone before the council's Employment Appeals Committee?
So what do members of that committee know?

Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...