Cyngor Gwynedd cancelled the Care Scrutiny committee that was to be held on the 20th November. The agenda pack for the meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5651/Public%20reports%20pack%2020th-Nov-2025%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10
A Task and Finish group is being setup to examine social services complaints.
Has there been an investigation?
Elliw Haf Hughes, is named as the Assistant Head of Safeguarding and Quality (not interim?)
Has Dafydd Paul been replaced?
Paul
was a man of many hats, though some might question the impartiality of
him holding both the senior safeguarding/child protection AND senior
complaints handling roles simultaneously.
Talking of complaints...
The Jan Pickles review into Neil Foden highlights concerns with the Ysgol Friars complaints procedures -
Foden used the procedures to shut down complaints and smear complainants.
The same has been said of cyngor Gwynedd.
Last year, Dafydd Paul reported 'bad behaviour' towards staff.
The language he used was disparaging and awful, demonising people who have no opportunity to challenge this, or defend themselves from such accusations.
Can we see the evidence?
Issues relating to the adults department handling of complaints include -
A serious complaint against a safeguarding officer was downgraded to an enquiry.
A Gwynedd councillor has on more than one occasion publicly expressed discontent with the department's handling of his own complaint.
Many parents of disabled children approach Gwynedd children's SS seeking support, their children only to be deemed 'not disabled' and daring to complain about matters can lead to parent blame and worse...
A recent report by Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello gives insight into how families are treated by the same services that have been created to support them -
SYSTEMS GENERATED TRAUMA
How disabled children and their families are traumatised by dysfunctional public services when they ask for support
https://cerebra.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Systems-Generated-Trauma-Report-web.pdf
There is little purpose to investigate one year's report so will the Task and Finish group extend their remit and be willing to listen to the experiences of past complainants?
Menna Trenholme, cabinet member for children, was to present her department's performance report -
The Children and Supporting Families Department has two projects in the Council Plan, namely the Autism Plan and a Plan for developing a residential provision for looked after children in small group homes.
After one meeting with senior officers, she believes the Autism Plan 'is continuing to thrive...' (ahem...)
A reminder that the Autism Plan came about through a complaint that led to the Hugh Morgan OBE review and to support autistic children AND adults WITHOUT a learning disability...
Then there is the plan for looked after children in small group homes.
The home in Morfa Bychan is still not registered.
Aled Gibbard says it's not a problem as they are in close contact with CIW...
A children's home breaching regulations that the council help enforce on other care providers. ..
The reason for the delay is Aled Gibbard having to register as a 'Responsible Individual'.
Why is it taking so long?
Cyngor Gwynedd has reported that they are now buying 'foster' homes.
Yet Gibbard appears to be suggesting that one of these properties will be a small group home..?
Apparently none of either the 'foster' homes or small group homes needs any change of use from a 'house' to a 'care home'.
In other news, concerns raised by the Governance and Audit committee into council owned care homes, Plas Hedd and Plas y Don, could be compounded by the threat of closure of Cerrig Camu in Dolgellau.
Cerrig Camu care home's closure could force vulnerable adults out of Gwynedd
https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/cerrig-camu-care-homes-closure-could-force-vulnerable-adults-out-of-gwynedd-845111
The threat of closure comes after an inspection report by Care Inspectorate Wales in July showing people at risk of harm and calling for Priority Action to be taken -
Instead of improving the home for the residents, the company considers closing the home.
Profit before care..?
Is this an opportunity for the council to buy the home..?
The full report by the CIW can be found here -
https://digital.careinspectorate.wales/directory/service/SIN-00009094-KPVB
Something is so very wrong within Gwynedd council...
