Lynne Neagle, Cabinet Secretary for Education
The publication of Our Bravery Brought Justice was a stark reminder of the profound and lasting impact that safeguarding failures can have on children and young people, and of the responsibility on all of us to ensure that such failings are never repeated.
In response to the report, I established a Ministerial Assurance Group, with myself, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government and Minister for Children and Social Care, to seek assurance on the actions being taken by Cyngor Gwynedd to address the recommendations of the report and to drive sustained improvements in safeguarding arrangements.
Through the work of this Assurance Group, we have focused on a number of key themes that are central to strengthening safeguarding practice. These discussions have emphasised ensuring that the voice and lived experience of the child remains at the heart of safeguarding systems and decision‑making and the importance of robust quality assurance arrangements and the consistent use of evidence to drive improvement.
Cyngor Gwynedd put in place a Response Plan to address the findings of the Child Practice Review, which we have been able to scrutinise, and this is structured around six key themes, each designed to drive lasting improvement in safeguarding practice.
The Voice of the Child Strategy is a key part of their response to ensure that children feel heard, believed and valued. As an Assurance Group we have discussed the importance of making sure that children’s own experiences shape the systems designed to keep them safe.
Managing Allegations and Concerns about Adults Working with Children is another key theme. Cyngor Gwynedd has improved its Section 5 arrangements following the Child Practice Review, focusing on better management of professional concerns and clearer use of available information in line with Section 5 strategy discussions.
They have introduced a Quality Assurance Framework to enhance oversight of safeguarding and to improve how safeguarding efforts are monitored and reported. This work is not simply technical; it reflects the importance of ensuring that children are better protected. By placing evidence at the centre of decision‑making, the council plans to strengthen confidence that concerns will be identified earlier, acted on more consistently, and that this will translate into better protection for children and young people.
Cyngor Gwynedd are also focussing on implementing improvements in training, safeguarding policies, and workforce confidence to strengthen professional practice and prevent future issues. Key safeguarding procedures are being updated, and local policies are aligning with national guidance from the review. The authority is implementing enhanced staff training focused on safeguarding and grooming. Work is also underway to establish clear whistleblowing procedures, so all staff know how to raise concerns safely and consistently.
Cyngor Gwynedd has made school governance a key focus, recognising the need for strong governing bodies to provide challenge and oversee safeguarding. Efforts to support governors include improved clerking and a new governance support officer, aiming to boost capacity, consistency, and confidence. These initiatives aim to help governors better understand safeguarding, scrutinise practice, and hold leaders accountable, promoting clearer accountability and stronger safeguarding leadership in schools.
There is also a dedicated focus on enhancing local policies and guidance in relation to Reducing Restrictive Practices. Priorities include improving how restrictive practices are tracked and reviewed, with added emphasis on clear expectations in schools and services, stronger safeguarding measures, and using lessons from incidents to decrease the use of restrictive practices and achieve better outcomes for children.
They are also undertaking some work to strengthen and streamline crisis response arrangements, including the development of a more integrated and user-friendly plan that consolidates health and safety, safeguarding, and emergency procedures. This approach is designed to provide greater clarity for schools and staff, support timely and proportionate responses during incidents, and ensure that essential information is easily accessible to inform decision-making and protect children and young people in times of crisis.
To support Cyngor Gwynedd with their work, we provided funding to enable the delivery of the required changes arising from the report. This funding has played an important role in strengthening local capacity and supporting the implementation of safeguarding improvements, including enhancing oversight, quality assurance and the arrangements in place to secure sustained change.
In November, Care Inspectorate Wales conducted a joint inspection with Estyn of Gwynedd local authority children and families services and education department. The inspection found a solid foundation for safeguarding within the authority, although practice was inconsistent. To achieve sustained improvements and better outcomes for children, the report recommended the need to improve and strengthen quality assurance processes, policies, procedures, strategies and practice across the Council’s departments supported by corporate policy on the voice of the child.
The final meeting of the Assurance Group in this Senedd term took place on 23 March, and I would like to place on record my thanks to Councillor Jeffreys and her team for their cooperation and constructive engagement throughout the work of the Assurance Group. Their willingness to reflect on challenge and demonstrate progress has been central to this process.
I would hope to see this work continue into the next Senedd term, with sustained leadership, oversight and accountability to ensure that the lessons from Our Bravery Brought Justice continue to be translated into meaningful and lasting change for children and young people.