#estyn

In June, 2023, Estyn undertook an inspection of education services in cyngor Gwynedd - https://www.estyn.gov.wales/system/files/?file=2023-09/Inspection%20report%20Cyngor%20Gwynedd%202023_0.pdf

It's not my fault...   But cyngor Gwynedd did not have an effective digital strategy at this time.  Geraint Owen, the former corporate director, was responsible for the strategy and had to defend himself at one council meeting for not creating the strategy...!

Estyn's analysis of the safeguarding arrangements within cyngor Gwynedd was completely wrong...

How did Estyn get it so wrong..?  Questions remain as to Estyn's diligence and methods of scrutiny.

Some clues can be found in another report dated September 2023, co-produced by Estyn, Health Inspectorate Wales and Care Inspectorate Wales after the death of Child T, from Bridgend. Rapid review of child protection arrangements The full report can be found here -  https://www.careinspectorate.wales/sites/default/files/2023-09/230928-Rapid-review-of-child-protection-arangements-en.pdf

In March, 2022, a project evaluation of the ECP was undertaken by Bruce Thornton,  a consultant and trainer in social care. His report can be found here -  https://www.effectivechildprotection.wales/sites/default/files/Effective%20Child%20Protection%20Project%20Evaluation_%20Full%20Report.pdf

Thornton writes -  I was asked to examine whether child protection in Gwynedd is more effective as a consequence of adopting the Effective Child Protection model? The unequivocal answer to that question is ‘Yes’

Obviously not...

The model focuses on parents needing to change behaviours but appears not to mention the risk of abuse from those in a position of trust/authority. The last child abuse scandal in this area of north Wales involved those in a position of trust/authority over children in care... 

Paul is believed to be 'absent from work' since the Spring of 2025, as is Marian Parry Hughes, the head of children's SS department. Cyngor Gwynedd refuse to confirm the identities of the officers until investigations commissioned by the HR department are complete. When will that be..? Have the investigations looked at the role of the senior officer within the legal department who was present at the safeguarding meeting in 2019 re Foden or is it focused solely on the officers within the children's department?  

A reminder that Foden physically abused boys..

It gets worse... Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales held a Joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council in November, 2025. That report can be found here -  https://estyn.gov.wales/app/uploads/2025/12/Safeguarding-inspection-report-Gwynedd-Council-2026.pdf

Shifting blame... Sounds great the scrutinising of sample files, some presumably written by the same officers now absent from work? BUT do they give a true representation of the facts? Some officers have history...

Where is the public inquiry? At the extraordinary council meeting, in February, Dafydd Gibbard stated that he had had a response from the government and that 'we need to share that'. Gibbard did not share the response at the meeting - so is there to be a public inquiry?

Stephen Wood, manager of the Gwynedd and Ynys Mon Youth Justice Service presented his report to the care scrutiny committee on the 29th, January, 2026.

The webcast of the meeting can be found here -  https://gwynedd.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1060285

There appears to be a change of culture within the service that coincides with a big drop in the numbers of young people being criminalised through the courts. 

Wood informed that the short, sharp shock tactics do not work. On youth offender's... Asked what the big problems were, he stated, violence and adults taking drugs. He mentioned that middle class children also commit crime - but they don't get caught. Hotspots include Caernarfon, Bangor, Holyhead, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llangefni. Cocaine was also raised as a problem locally.

It takes a village to raise a child... Over the years, local schools have closed and super schools built instead. Many village's then lost their local shop, their bakery closed and then the pub. Families moved and communities were lost.

Then the council shut the youth clubs and sacked the youth workers. Audit Wales warned against this but the messenger was derided by councillors at a full council meeting on the 3rd October, 2019. 

Schools have failed the children, too.Pre-pandemic the policy was to include children - now figures show more children are excluded. Idle hands and all that...

Does the ''Keeping Families Together' strategy co-authored by the interim head of the children's department, Sharron Williams Carter, show a change of culture? One can hope...

Predetermined to fail..? The work of the 16+ team  was discussed.  This service has had its issues, too.  From social workers poor note taking and a team leader that has been accused of faking assessments and setting up children and families to fail. 

Estyn have just completed a joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council - The purpose of this inspection was to evaluate developments in Gwynedd Local Authority’s safeguarding arrangements since September 2023. Joint inspection with a focus on safeguarding in Gwynedd Council by Estyn, His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education, and Training in Wales, and Care Inspectorate Wales. Date of inspection: November 2025 

The inspection team considered one key question:-  How well are children protected from individuals who may pose a risk to them and when concerns are raised about those who care for them or work with them, either in a paid or voluntary role?

This question is not answered... Estyn and the CIW do mention this -

Did Estyn and Care Inspectorate Wales actually read this piece of work? https://www.effectivechildprotection.wales/en/ Was this presented to Estyn and CIW as new and innovative? The 'effective child protection' model was created by Dafydd Paul - many years ago.  It does not answer the investigation teams key question nor deal with abuse by those in a position of trust...