Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Social Services.

The report of the Director of Social Services was presented for the Committee’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Children, Young People and Families said that Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility across all services in the Council together with staff, contractors, volunteers and Elected Members have a role to play in protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm whether be inside or outside the home.   He noted that one of the key actions undertaken from the scrutiny meeting held in January 2025 was to revise the Terms of Reference for both the Corporate Safeguarding Delivery Board and the Corporate Safeguarding Board.  This work has now been completed, and the revised Terms of Reference have been formally approved by the Corporate Safeguarding Board.  These revisions strengthen governance arrangements, clarify accountability and ensure that safeguarding responsibilities are embedded consistently across the Council.  The Corporate Safeguarding Delivery Board has expanded its membership over the last year, and this has strengthened cross-departmental engagement and created positive momentum in driving forward safeguarding responsibilities across the Council.  He further said that Safeguarding continues to be identified as the third highest risk to the Council.  Since the publication of ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’, the Council, particularly Social Service and the Education Service, have been working closely with the North Wales Safeguarding Board to demonstrate how the Authority has responded to the recommendations in this Child Practice Review.  This work was explored in detail during discussions within the joint meeting of the Education Scrutiny Panel and Social Service Scrutiny Panel in December 2025.  The Corporate Safeguarding Delivery Board is currently scrutinizing the procurement processes relating to the transportation of children to and from school as is noted within the report and this work forms part of a wider focus on strengthening safe commissioning across the Council. 

The Portfolio Member welcomed that it has not been necessary for the Authority to refer any cases to the North Wales Safeguarding Board for a Single Unified Safeguarding Review in the last 12 months.   He referred to the workforce development and training as was noted in the report and refers to further areas of development that are required.  The key priority for the coming year includes launching the five-year Corporate Safeguarding Board Strategy in April 2026; strengthening contractor safeguarding requirements; continuing to embed safeguarding across all directorates; enhancing multi-agency collaboration and community engagement; implementing a quarterly safeguarding newsletter and developing and delivering the new safeguarding communication plan.  He said that the work undertaken over the last 12 months demonstrates strong process in strengthening safeguarding arrangements across the Council.  The Corporate Safeguarding Delivery Board will continue to drive forward improvements, ensure compliance with statutory duties, and promote a culture where safeguarding is recognized as everyone’s responsibility.  The issues in relation to the recording of training records for schools will be escalated to the Corporate Safeguarding Board in February. 

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following main matters: -

·         Questions were raised as to reasons for the low percentage of school staff who have completed mandatory training on Learning Pool.  The Senior Manager Health Wellbeing and Safeguarding responded that challenges have occurred in the past with school staff unable to access the Authority’s Learning Pool facility but completed the training through EduCare.  Further questions were raised that some schools have been using the HWB to complete training and it seems that schools use different online systems to complete training.  The Senior Manager Health Wellbeing and Safeguarding responded that the matter can be raised with the IT and Human Resources Department regarding the use of different systems for training purposes. 

·         Questions were raised as to the reasons why not all staff have completed the Group A mandatory training by the Safeguarding Week in November 2025.  The Portfolio Member for Children, Young People and Families responded that the intention within the Safeguarding Week was to promote the training and not that all staff needed to complete the training by November 2025 as some staff do not have access to a computer during working hours

·         Questions were raised whether the Authority could introduce a policy in prohibiting the use of mobile phones in primary and secondary schools.  The Portfolio Member for Children, Young People and Families responded that there are concerns as to the misuse of social media by young people and it is important that pupils are taught how to use social media safely and wisely.   He noted that Ysgol David Hughes has prohibited the use of mobile phones in the school but there was different opinion following the introduction of the policy within the school.  It was highlighted that the matter is for the Governing Body of individual schools to decide whether to prohibit the use of mobile phones in their schools. Further matters were raised that the Authority should have a policy in place across five secondary schools on the Island prohibiting the use of mobile phones. It was noted that examples of good practise in prohibiting of the use of mobile phones in schools across Wales should be investigated.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that he was willing to discuss the matter with the Heads of the five secondary schools and to investigate examples good practise across Wales.

·         Reference was made to the publication of ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ report and questions were raised as to whether the Authority is confident that stringent measures are in place to address any difficult situations with missed opportunities as has happened in another Authority.   The Portfolio Member for Children, Young People and Families responded that the ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ report has been discussed in a joint meeting between the Education Scrutiny Panel and the Social Services Scrutiny Panel recently.  He noted that as a Portfolio Member he is confident that measures are in place on Anglesey to respond and address any similar challenges.  The Director of Social Services said that there were 23 recommendations within the ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ report and discussions were undertaken in detail within the joint meeting of both Scrutiny Panels.  He noted that this Authority has stringent measures in place to address any situation that may arise; however, it was explained that such situations may arise, but was confident that the Authority has measures in place to address such issues and that clear expectations are in place for the staff of the Council and partners. The strong close working relationship between the Social Services and Education Departments is in place within this Authority and in schools.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that the Governing Body of schools should also be made aware of any situations that may arise within their schools.     The Chair referred to the ‘Our Bravery Brought Justice’ which highlighted that the Governing Body within a particular school in another Authority, were unaware that the list of the names of the Governing Body and designated roles was not available on the schools’ website and Governors had a ‘loose grip’ of matters of governance.  The Chair questioned whether this Authority is confident that the Governing Bodies on the schools on Anglesey are aware of their important roles as school governors.  He said that it seems that the names and roles of Governing Bodies of schools on Anglesey are also unavailable on the school’s website.  The Portfolio Member for Children, Young People and Families responded that all the Elected Members are represented on governing bodies on schools within their electoral wards.  He emphasised that training is an important part of any governor’s role and that they have completed the designated training afforded to complete their roles effectively. The Senior Manager Health Wellbeing and Safeguarding said that every school should have safeguarding poster outlining the measures in place and contact details for any person that wishes support together with pictures of school staff and the designated person on the governing body.  He referred to the training opportunities afforded and considered that Safeguarding should be an item on every meeting of the governing body.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that he would take an action point from this Committee to ensure that schools put names of their governing body and their designated roles. The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that Welsh Government is currently reviewing the role of governing bodies, and the report will be published in the Summer 2026.  He said that both schools that he is a Governor has a ‘handbook’ with a list of names of school staff and the governing body. 

·         Reference was made to the PREVENT week in raising awareness and safeguarding against radicalization; staff and partner organisations have had an opportunity to complete training. Questions were raised as to whether consideration has been given to afford such training to secondary schools’ pupils and whether a teacher is designated in each of the five secondary schools as a PREVENT Officer. The Service Manager for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance responded that regional discussion are currently been undertaken which will allow young people to be part of such training as regards to radicalization. She noted that ‘Shout Out UK’ afforded workshops to highlight safeguarding against radicalization.  The Senior Manager Health Wellbeing and Safeguarding said that a designated Safeguarding Officer has been appointed who lead on PREVENT also within the schools. 

·         Questions were raised whether each contractor who undertakes work by the Authority will need to undertake Safeguarding Training. It was noted that a lot of workers are self-employed.   The Director of Social Services responded that Safeguarding will be included in every contract afforded by the Council and there will be a sentence in the contract to highlight that if they witness any issues of concern that they should be aware as to whom they should contact to report the incident of concern.  The Authority will support any person who wishes to complete the Safeguarding training.

·         Questions were raised as to the training and guidance afforded to Residential and Care Homes owners as regards to Safeguarding.  The Director of Social Services responded that guidelines are robust, and Care Inspectorate Wales ensures that safeguarding is important to safeguard individuals within the care sector. 

·         Questions were raised as to the requirement for Hackney Licensing/Taxis as regards to Safeguarding and DBS checks.  The Service Manager for Safeguarding and Quality Assurance responded that the Corporate Safeguarding Board expects Hackney Licensing operators to undertake firstly DBS checks and thereafter safeguarding training before the issue of the hackney license. 

It was RESOLVED that following examining the information presented  and reviewing developments over the past 12 months, it was agreed that the Council is fully meeting its Corporate Safeguarding obligations.