Cyngor Gwynedd Council Outrages Ombudsman For Wales.
In Cyngor Gwynedd translated Minutes. senior officers openly admit that the Ombudsman is 'outraged' with them and the CEO, Dilwyn Williams, statement gave some detail, for example - "That this had been an extremely difficult case, and as the Department had not experienced many cases in which the Ombudsman had decided against it, it was possible that we had not been successful in changing our operating principles to what the Ombudsman would have liked to have seen."
To my knowledge there are now FIVE Ombudsman for Wales Reports that have found against Gwynedd Council over the last four years - the most recent was published, last month, in the public interest, as a vulnerable person died. (The link to this latest Report can be found at the bottom of the page) The CEO is made aware of any Ombudsman's investigations by the Ombudsman himself and would have read the draft report(s) - all relevant departments are given the opportunity to comment and/or challenge any errors before publication. What of all the council department's documents and Annual reports that should have alerted Councillors and the public to the systemic failings found within the council - over the years? All written by the same officer's responsible for the systemic failings and maladministration. One Report from 2018 is being sat on and has still to be presented for scrutiny by Adult Social Services. In the meeting's other news, four council reports were presented for scrutiny - not one contained good news.
It is disturbing that of the four reports presented to the Committee not one senior officer reported on a fundamental change to the Children's Derwen criteria. Derwen is a partnership between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Gwynedd Council’s Social Services and now Anglesey Specialist Children's Services. The Council has finally been forced to apply the defintion of disability as defined under the Equality Act, 2010 when assessing the needs of children. The CEO's statement does reference non compliance with recommendations from previous Ombudsman's Investigations, but is poorly written and makes little sense "As there had also been confusion regarding the wording of one of the Ombudsman’s recommendations relating to the parents' assessment, we also did not comply with another clause which we had agreed to implement" There was no confusion regarding the wording. The Ombudsman's wording is simple and clearly written. The updated Derwen Policy can be found here - https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Health-and-social-care/Hwb-teuluoedd/Integrated-Team-for-Disabled-Children.aspx Local solicitors and advice groups take note. (It is advisable to make hard copies) The Ombudsman for Wales Report,dated January,2020, can be find below - It finds against Gwynedd Council, Cartrefi Cymru and BCUHB. https://rhagolwg.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Council/Documents---Council/Final-Public-Interest-Report.pdf Something is very wrong within Gwynedd council.
