Gwynedd Council Complaints And Scrutiny - Or Not...
Just came across this link on the web.
https://democracy.cyngor.gwynedd.gov.uk/documents/s7887/Adroddiad%20Blynyddol%202015-16%20Sterfynol.pdf
Its slightly long winded so I will not reproduce it here in its entirety but I would like to comment on some of it as it seems so...well...personal to me.
This is an excerpt from a Cyngor Gwynedd Council report written by Margaret Kenealy Jones.
10.3b
Complainants
–
During this year we have recieved(sic) numerous complaints from the same individuals.
The individuals in questions will recieve(sic) a response and will return within a couple of weeks with a slightly different issue they would like to be addressed. They will also contact through different channels, for example
Solicitor or the Local Member of Parliament.
Example
–
A parent has been in contact herself regarding the hours of support work her son recieves(sic). As she is unhappy with the response,she contacted her Solicitor and her Local MP. In this case, as the Service had only recently recieved(sic) Access to the child in question they had not been able to produce a comprehensive assessment of need and therefore the hours agreed during the summer period was based on the information provided by the parent directly.
The Service are in the process of working with the family to complete a comprehensive assessment of the child’s needs in order to ascertain the amount of support needed. This has been closed as a complaint, and is now an operational matter being monitored by Senior Managers.
Does the new regulation allow for such a whitewash of the facts in this case ?
No mention in the report that this particular case has been ongoing for years.
No mention that in 2010 an Independent Investigation upheld an official complaint against the Council in this case.
No mention of the person being so ignored and denied access to services by the Council and so, in desperation, contacted a solicitor - and only then - strangely - were services granted.
No mention of the Ombudsman for Wales agreeing with the parent that a stage 2 investigation should be allowed.
No mention that the Ombudsman for Wales was then mis-informed in this case and superceded their original decision only after Gwynedd council supplied said 'extra' information.
No mention that Liz Saville-Roberts, MP, was contacted, as advised by the Autism Champion for Gwynedd, Elin Walker Jones.
Please, Kenealy, you are required by Statute to produce a yearly report.
I understand it is your job to paint the council and yourself in as good a light as possible but official reports presented to the public should always be used to give some modicum of accuracy and fairness.
Will you be updating the public on how this case has progressed in your next report ?
