Cyngor Gwynedd Council - Head Of Adults SS To Leave Post?

Cyngor Gwynedd council held a Care Scrutiny Committee on the 3rd April, 2025.
The agenda pack can be found here -
https://democracy.gwynedd.llyw.cymru//documents/g5191/Public%20reports%20pack%2003rd-Apr-2025%2010.30%20Care%20Scrutiny%20Committee.pdf?T=10

The meeting began with councillor Gwynfor Owen expressing his frustration at having to declare an interest on the progress report of the Gwynedd Mental Health Service, agenda item 6, and the report on the Autism Team's Work Programme, item 7. 

Owen has lived experience and in the past this same committee has welcomed his knowledge. Not this time. The chair, Beth Lawton, said she understood the councillor's frustration and thanked him. This meant Owen had to leave the meeting during the discussion on both reports. Later in the meeting, Lawton also stopped another councillor from discussing the report.

Why are councillors not allowed to debate some reports?
Owen recently made a complaint against Gwynedd SS and has expressed his discontent with the investigation. The Ombudsman for Wales did not take up the councillor's complaint. The PSOW has been criticised for its failure to deal with Gwynedd council SS departments under the last administration.

Councillor Jones-Williams then declared an interest in the Housing Action Plan progress report but was adamant he would not be leaving the meeting as it is just a report, he said.

The Housing Action Plan, authored by Carys Fôn Williams, Head of Housing and Property, was discussed. The presenting officer was unable to answer some concerns raised. The report mentions Gwynedd council's intention to use £2.1 million from the Council Tax Premium to improve the council owned smallholdings. This to be confirmed at the next Cabinet meeting.

Legal counsel is being sought with regard to the letting of property and the 'linguistic element'.
Welsh speakers only...?

In typical Ffordd Gwynedd fashion, the committee voted to accept a report that could and perhaps should have been deferred until improved.

The Gwynedd Mental Health Service report, authored by Mannon Emyr Trappe, is staff focussed.
Her report states - 
Staff satisfaction -
It is quite clear that the remodelling of the service has improved the staff's well-being.
Here are some comments by members of the service –
"feel part of the Council"
"the person comes first instead of the process"
"I get to be a Social Worker"
"practice focuses on the strengths of the individual rather than what we are able to offer"

During the discussion, Trappe did acknowledge that the service was open to those receiving a service from the council. She added that the number of carers assessments undertaken are low and said that the social service assessments focus on the strengths of the individual. A reminder that without a successful assessment there are no services.

Aled Davies, the Head of Adults SS, was also involved in the discussion. Gwynedd council are currently advertising for a new Head of Adults Service but Davies made no mention of this -

We are looking to recruit a Head of Adults Department who will play a key role in leading and realising the Council's vision for the County's Social Services for Adults. ... Jobs Events Opinion ... Cyngor Gwynedd. Salary: £81,860 - £90,274 a year. Closing Date: 31/03/2025 (17 days)

The Progress Report On the Autism Team's Work Programme is authored by Aled Gibbard, Assistant Head of Service, Children and Family Support Department. His writes positively but the reality is that there is still no support for children and adults who fall between the cracks. It has been said that the team is simply another signposting service and that support for autistic children is also lacking in schools.

Where were officers from the Education department?
How do they support children in schools?
How many children requiring support have been excluded or absent because of no support?

The long standing problems within schools affect not only children with ALN.
Claims of bullying and harassment not dealt with properly have been heard for years. Teachers are unhappy and the sickness levels are high.  Not forgetting Ysgol Friars and Neil Foden..
.
There has been an increase in allegations against those in a position of trust.

In other news, a member of staff suspended for many years has now been reinstated by Gwynedd council.
Will there now be a review into the actions of the safeguarding officers involved in the suspension?

The webcast of the scrutiny meeting can be found here -
https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/976260/start_time/87000

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...

 

Of Mice And Men - Cyngor Gwynedd Council...

Cyngor Gwynedd council held a Cabinet meeting on the 11th June, 2024. 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

First up was the Asset Management Plan and most notably the decision to spend money on the smallholdings the council own. Once upon a time, Gwynedd council considered smallholdings a valuable source of income but a past report showed concerns with low rents and arrears. A Task and Finish group was set up to investigate these concerns last year but does not appear to have yet met...

The Strategic Safeguarding Panel Annual Report 2023/24 was also discussed -
It is essential that Cabinet members are aware of the Panel’s work on safeguarding and are satisfied that the Panel has undertaken the required work in a thorough and conscientious manner.

The panel is chaired by councillor Menna Trenholme, but ultimate responsibility lies with the Director Of SS. Concerns with the safeguarding of children has come to the fore with the recent trial of Neil Foden - but the report only mentions this in passing -

There were also cases during the year of crime against children. Whilst legal proceedings and the courts are doing their work, it is important that, as social services, we consistently learn from these incidents through reviews and improve our services to ensure the safety of those who are most vulnerable in our community.

It will be difficult for the Director, Dylan Owen, to deal with many of the issues emerging from the Foden case having only recently joined the council. It is the same with councillor Trenholme.
Morwena Edwards, the former Director and Dilwyn Williams, former CEO of the council will have more knowledge of events in this case but will they be part of the review? A reminder that some of those who have failed children are still in post...

A Performance Report for the Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing was also given. The cabinet member, Dilwyn Morgan, was the cabinet member for children until 2022. His report mentions making more use of technology to improve the ability of Gwynedd residents to access support and care -

So no support for the elderly and disabled. The most vulnerable in the county left to care for themselves. Nothing in this report helps the issue of bed blocking in the local hospitals, either.

The Performance Report for Children and Supporting Families was presented by Councillor Elin Walker-Jones. The report focusses on the department's priority projects, namely the Autism Plan and the Small Group Homes Scheme.

The report gives an update on the house purchased by the council in Morfa Bychan for children with intensive and complex needs who are currently in very expensive out of county placements. The report mentions the doors are to be opened in September...

Questions from councillors on the group home schemes were responded to by Aled Gibbard, assistant head - resources. His answers show that little thought has been given to the project. Councillors asked what happens when these children reach the age of 18. Gibbard replied that the council no longer have a responsibilty for these children. So what happens to them and where will these teenagers go then?

Gibbard made reference to Gisda, an organisation that supports young people in the area. But Gisda only have four flats which are presumably used by the youngsters they support. What happens to them?

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men
Gang aft agley,
An’lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy
Robert Burns

Elin Walker Jones report references the Autism Plan and promises to "improve our provision and make it easier for individuals and their families to transfer between different services."

This is disingenuous of the cabinet member who knows better than anyone that there is no real provision for autistic individuals without a learning disability and never has been. How can you improve something that does not exist? 

The cabinet member for children was also heard to make a comment regarding autism and disability, but the comment can not be verified as the webcast meeting has not yet been made available to the public.

Regardless of the many concerns, the Cabinet members voted to accept the reports as requested by senior officers.

Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council...