Cheshire West @ Cyngor Gwynedd...

Cyngor Gwynedd Care Scrutiny committee met on the 4th June, 2026. 

Tick box exercise...
The meeting was more to vote through department's performance reports rather than proper scrutiny and many councillors did not bother to turn up for the meeting.

The Strategic Safeguarding Panel Yearly Report 2025/26 was presented by Dewi Jones, cabinet member for Education and now chair of the panel. It is of concern that this panel could be used to avoid scrutiny by councillors and the public. 

Jones' report does not give a clear analysis of the data.
There are now 282 children receiving education at home - up 20 from the previous year.
How many of these children have ALN and were failed in schools?
How many children no longer attend school because of bullying?

A reminder that Neil Foden not only sexually abused female pupils, but physically assaulted boys also.

Our Bravery Brought Justice... 
But has it really?
How many of those children abused by Foden are receiving support?
Are all of the children eligible for compensation from cyngor Gwynedd?

The Extended Child Practice Review undertaken by Jan Pickles, showed that the abused children were receiving 'care' from cyngor Gwynedd. Were any in foster care? 
It is concerning that there appears to be no reporting from the fostering team regarding the Foden case ?
A report states that an inspection has recently been undertaken of the Fostering Service and the report should be published soon.

Will it be accurate..?
 
Foden also targeted and excluded pupils with ALN and those considered to have behavioural issues. 

There appears to be an ongoing issue that this behaviour by teachers is not uncommon in Gwynedd schools...

Jones' report also includes - 

In the meeting, the Performance Report of the Cabinet Member for Children and Supporting Families was presented, authored by Sharron Williams Carter, Head of Children and Supporting Families Department.

The Autism Plan was mentioned. 
Carter's analysis is revealing - on many levels - 

Carter's word salad shows that parents seeking support for their autistic children have been blamed for their children's issues. Families are STILL being assessed under a safeguarding lens, instead of being assessed as disabled children, as they have no learning disability.

Trauma informed - Trauma induced...
The implementation of Care and Support plans rather than Child Protection orders show that the children's department under Marian Parry Hughes got it wrong - many times, on so many levels.

Hughes was supported in her decision making by the SS department's senior complaints officer, who has in the past tried to shut down legitimate complaints from parents seeking support.

This very same officer was also the senior safeguarding officer, it is not hard to see why 'neurodivergent families' were subjected to unjustifiable actions regarding child protection matters.

Councillors have ignored families when they have attempted to raise concerns. 

Both officers have been 'absent from work' for well over a year now - on full pay?

Is Gwynedd's service for disabled children, Derwen, still operating under unlawful criteria ? 

There is still concern about the mental health of children and young people who do not meet the threshold for CAMHS support. 

The Autism Plan - as is - does not afford the kind of support that it was designed to provide specifically for those WITHOUT a learning disability. 

Both children and adults are going unsupported including in Education throughout Gwynedd.

Perhaps Hugh Morgan OBE, could be asked for his thoughts on the council's actions after his report which can be found here - 
https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/finally-gwynedd-councils-autism-report.html

Carter also writes on the Residential provision for looked after children in small group homes.
Her report confirms that the home in Morfa Bychan is no longer run as an illegal enterprise.
But the home in Deiniolen is operating illegally.
It is claimed that the homes in Edern and Cricieth are to become operational by the end of the year.

The adults department's report was authored by Mari Wynne Jones, presented by, Dilwyn Morgan, cabinet member for adults. In order -'To provide assurance that the Cabinet Member has a grip on the department’s performance matters.'

An officer run council...
Morgan, who presided over the closure of the day centres for the elderly, is grateful for the unpaid carers in the county who have been forced to continue caring duties with even less support.

He also began to give his view on the recent 'Cheshire West' ruling that will affect Deprivation of Liberty orders (DOLs). 

Morgan was closed down by the the director of SS, Huw Dylan Owen, saying that he had covered the court's ruling earlier. But Owen had only given a brief mention of the decision saying little more than the council's legal department were reading though and interpreting the 81 page ruling.

As the ruling will affect vulnerable people ie those with dementia and learning disabilities, Morgan may have offered some insight in to how the council will now operate in this regard.
It is concerning that the cabinet member was shut down by the officer. 
One wonders why the chair did not intervene...

Homelessness...
Last up on the agenda was the Housing and Property performance report, authored by Carys Fôn Williams. It was presented after the lunch break and one councillor appeared to wake up and attempt to hold officers to account re the numbers on the housing register. The numbers are correct...

If only scrutiny members would challenge all departments like this. 
Why don't they....? 

Not all of the reports figures add up when compared to each other...

   

The reports and agenda pack can be found here - 
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5799/Public%20reports%20pack%2004th-Jun-2026%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The webcast of the meeting can be found here - 
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1095666

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Foster Home Or A Small Group Home..? Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

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...

Training Fact Check - Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

Cyngor Gwynedd Care Scrutiny Committee met on the 20th April, 2023, to hear progress on the autism plan.

Councillor Gwynfor Owen asked the senior operational manager, Aled Gibbard, if the training of staff had taken place yet. The officer did not give a simple yes or no but rambled on about e-modules for staff (created by the National Autistic Team) and that over 300 people have viewed the video.
So no - the Councillor retorted.

The senior operational manager appears to have forgotten the 'intense training' that senior officers put forward as evidence in an Ombudsman's investigation. The original recommendation agreed to was -
81 (f) Reviews its process on monitoring commissioned services for adults.
(g) Undertakes a review of its ASD procedures, specifically those for adults and children with high functioning ASD, and ensure that the requirements of the SSWA 2014, MHM 2010 and ASD SAP have been met.
(h) Undertakes an audit of its ASD trained officers, identifies any shortfall and arranges appropriate training within the following 12 months.

When the Ombudsman followed up with the council to check compliance with its orders, the senior officers informed -
Further to the request below for information, here’s the latest information we have about the situation in terms of the ASD service. There has been no specific review, but intense training has been undertaken in the subject (and in the plans).I have prepared an answer below. You are welcome to pass this forward, by also explaining that no specific review has yet taken place.

"The staff delivering Learning Disability services are acutely aware of the increasing need for timely and effective provision of high quality services for people living with ASD. We have implemented an extensive training and awareness programme as evidenced by the Training Unit. In addition, we are proactive members of the North Wales Integrated Autism Service (details attached). We have also begun work to establish a new team within the Learning Disability service which will be taking a preventative approach to service delivery, with effective ASD provision being an integral part." 

Even though this 'intensive training' was not autism specific the Ombudsman accepted this as a 'variance' and only then closed the investigation. A reminder that this case 201700388 was featured in the Ombudsman's hall of shame casebook - Equality and Human Rights 2019/20.

Cyngor Gwynedd had even posted details of this 'extensive training and awareness programme' on its website - but removed it soon after the Ombudsman received a critique of the officers 'evidence' after a Freedom of Information request revealed the disconnect with reality. Luckily for officers, the Ombudsman does not reopen cases - even after new evidence is provided.

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council - the problem is the senior officers.

 

Autism And Dementia Support Update - Cyngor Gwynedd Council.

As if by magic, Cyngor Gwynedd have now added an Employment Appeals Committee to its calendar. The meeting will take place on Friday, 21st April, 2023 at 9.00 am. The agenda is yet to be published.

The Care Scrutiny Committee meet on the 20th April. The agenda includes the overdue update on the council's autism plan. Some members of the committee will remember the Senior Operational Manager, Aled Gibbard, launching the 'innovative' plan in the 2021 meeting.

Full Minutes of the Autism Strategy from the 2021 meeting can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/mgAi.aspx?ID=22140
An excerpt -
'The Cabinet Member elaborated on the content of the report noting that this Plan was one of the Council's improvement priority projects, namely to ensure that Families and Children with autism had access to the support they needed to thrive...'
'It was added that work on the Plan had continued during the recent difficult period and the opportunity was taken to thank Council Officers for their work along with other partners including the Health Board'

There was a high number of councillors absent from that meeting including apologies from the Head of childrens SS and the Cabinet member for Adults. The former Chair of the committee was clear to point out to Mr Gibbard the department's long standing failure to support autism services. Other observations included -
'It was enquired whether the number of people with the condition was increasing. It was also stated that it would have been useful to see more input from families during the consultation. It was suggested that regular feedback should be received from service users and their families in order to review whether or not this Plan had improved their experiences...'

The updated report contains no data...
The link to the updated report can be found here - https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s37702/UPDATE%20ON%20THE%20GWYNEDD%20AUTISM%20PLAN.pdf

Under Staffing Update - the officers write that the previous 'innovative' plan had 'originally included the appointment of a co-ordinator and transition age social worker..'
Note 'originally'.This post was a specific requirement of the 2020 Hugh Morgan OBE Review. The post has been paid for, after all.

The update report continues - An Autism Practice Lead has now been appointed and will take up her role in May 2023. This post will co-ordinate the development of Autism services in Gwynedd and will act as the line manager for the other posts. The Social Worker post has been advertised for the second time, with no applicants responding to the first advertisement. Interviews for the post are currently being arranged. The Key Worker posts are due to be advertised shortly...

It mentions that one SW job was advertised but had no candidates - the report fails to mention that the permanent position was originally advertised as a 4 year, temporary position. No wonder there was no response.

A copy of the Hugh Morgan review into Gwynedd autism services can be found here -  https://gwyneddsfailingcouncil.blogspot.com/2021/04/finally-gwynedd-councils-autism-report.html 

With the senior officers accepting the recommendations of the review this also re-assured the Ombudsman for Wales who was looking into non compliance from another investigation. Councillors will remember the Ombudsman's 'outrage' with the council and the summoning of the former CEO to Cardiff to personally apologise for the failings.

The council have not yet employed the staff - and appear to be sitting on the funding.
Just smoke and mirrors...

The Cabinet Member for Adults is to also update the Committee on dementia support. The report is...bad and shows the deep crisis in Gwynedd. Did the embargo on care homes affect dementia placements too? So many questions and a member that has refused to answer to the Committee in the past. It is not looking good for the elderly...

That report can be found here - https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/s37698/Support%20for%20Individuals%20with%20Dementia%20in%20Gwynedd.pdf