Progress report highlights safeguarding reforms in Gwynedd

Progress is being made across all workstreams that have stemmed from the Neil Foden Crime Response Plan, with further work to be carried out to prevent children in Gwynedd suffering in the same way again.

This will be the main message of Professor Sally Holland, former Children's Commissioner for Wales and a leading authority in child protection, as she presents her first quarterly report as Chair of the Crime Response Plan Programme Board. The board was established by Cyngor Gwynedd’s Cabinet in January 2025 to monitor the plan’s progress, to offer advice and to challenge the organisation.

According to Professor Holland, positive progress has so far been made with 32 of the 63 work tasks having already been completed and a firm commitment from the Council to complete the remaining tasks.

Projects that have already been completed within the Response Plan include:

 

• Report by an independent barrister who specialises in safeguarding investigations, who was commissioned to carry out an investigation into specific incidents in 2019 that were highlighted during the Neil Foden criminal case – the report has been received and the Council has committed to act upon its recommendations. This will be monitored by the Response Plan Programme Board.

 

• Investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office – this has been completed and Cyngor Gwynedd’s Freedom of Information procedures have been updated.

 

• Stabilising Ysgol Friars – a new interim headteacher has been appointed and arrangements are in place to continue to support the school to move forward.

 

• Inquiry into safeguarding arrangements in Gwynedd's schools – the Council's Scrutiny Committee has established an inquiry. Positive progress is being made, and it is expected that the work will be completed by the end of 2025.

 

The work stemming from the Response Plan runs parallel to the Child Practice Review (CPR) investigation, which is a statutory process being carried out by the North Wales Safeguarding Board. All the findings of the Council's investigations have been immediately shared with the Review.

Professor Sally Holland, Chair of the Programme Board, said:

“The purpose of this Response Plan and every action taken by the Council is to prevent such crimes from being committed by persons in positions of trust. This should always be our priority.  It is vital that Cyngor Gwynedd strengthens the confidence of Gwynedd residents that it has done everything in its power to safeguard children in the school environment and that it will act decisively when concerns are raised.

“I'm pleased to be able to bring this first report to the Cabinet’s attention, to show the work that has been done so far and to highlight what is yet to be completed.

“As I note in the report, the officers who are members of the Board are keen to make progress in the areas of work for which they are responsible and have shown a readiness to listen and act on the advice of external experts and the rest of the Board.

“We all agree that this will not be a quick or easy process and that there is further detailed work ahead. As each independent investigation is completed, the response plan must be adapted and strengthened.

“Looking to the future, I am confident that the Board will continue to steer the work programme and advise, scrutinise and challenge to ensure that all recommendations are delivered in full.”

Councillor Nia Jeffreys, Leader of Cyngor Gwynedd, added:

“The survivors and their families and all those affected by what happened continue to be foremost in our thoughts. Their bravery and resilience continue to drive us to look at our arrangements and learn lessons with the help and guidance of the Programme Board.

“The Cabinet meeting, and the presentation of the report, will be an opportunity to find out more about the progress made and the work yet to be carried out. I am extremely grateful to Professor Holland for her leadership and expertise during this vital process.”

In addition, the Council has completed another internal investigation to assess whether the response of Ysgol Friars, the school's Governors and the Council to the findings of a Complaints Panel Report held in 2019 were adequate and appropriate. As part of this work, the Council has received the report it had commissioned from an independent Human Resources investigator.

The independent Human Resources investigator has established that the finding of the 2019 report did not relate to concerns about child safeguarding issues but concluded that the Governing Body and the Council could have better responded to the Complaint Panel’s recommendations. 

The school’s Governing Body and the Council welcome the recommendations made by the independent Human Resources investigator. They are committed to ensuring that each recommendation is acted upon to ensure a better response to any similar situations in the future. The Programme Board, under the leadership of Professor Holland, will continuously monitor and scrutinise progress in this regard.