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Rhoddwyd cryn dipyn o sylw yn ystod y flwyddyn ddiwethaf i ymchwiliadau i achosion hanesyddol o gam\-drin plant. Mae achosion o'r fath yn ein hatgoffa bod yn rhaid i ni fod ar ein gwyliadwriaeth yn gyson er mwyn amddiffyn yr aelodau mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymdeithas. Thema gyffredin yn yr achosion dan sylw oedd y ffaith nad oedd pobl yn gwrando ar y plant, nac yn eu credu.  Nid oes modd i ni newid y gorffennol, ond mae gwersi y gallwn eu dysgu.

Dros 10 mlynedd yn ôl cynhaliwyd ymchwiliad Syr Ronald Waterhouse i achosion o gam\-drin plant yn y gogledd. Cafodd ei adroddiad ddylanwad ar y pwyslais yr ydym yn ei roi ar eiriolaeth bellach fel ffordd o helpu i ddiogelu ein plant a sicrhau na all digwyddiadau'r gorffennol gael eu hailadrodd.

Nid oes modd i ni orbwysleisio pwysigrwydd eiriolaeth er mwyn sicrhau ein bod yn gwrando ar ein plant a'n pobl ifanc pan fyddant yn dweud bod rhywbeth o'i le, pan fo angen help arnynt, pan fo penderfyniadau pwysig sy'n effeithio arnynt yn cael eu gwneud a bod ganddynt rywbeth i'w ddweud am y mater, a phan fo angen rhywun i’w cefnogi.  

Mae gofyniad statudol ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparu gwasanaethau eirioli annibynnol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc sy'n derbyn gofal, pobl sy'n gadael gofal a phlant mewn angen.  Rhaid i'r ddarpariaeth hon fod yn gwbl ganolog yn nhrefniadau awdurdodau lleol i ddiogelu a hyrwyddo lles plant. Yn ogystal â hynny, rhaid i awdurdodau lleol hefyd fod yn hyderus bod ansawdd y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu darparu yn ddigon da er mwyn sicrhau bod y trefniadau diogelu yn effeithiol, a bod modd i blant a phobl ifanc gyrraedd at y gwasanaethau y maen nhw'n eu haeddu.

Rydym yn gwybod bod arferion ardderchog mewn sawl ardal yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, mae ambell enghraifft wedi codi o ddryswch ynghylch cyfrifoldeb awdurdodau lleol mewn perthynas ag eiriolaeth ar gyfer y grwpiau penodol hyn o blant a phobl ifanc, ac mae hynny'n destun pryder mawr i ni. Er mwyn sicrhau bod pawb yn deall, mae'r Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol wedi ysgrifennu at awdurdodau lleol i ddweud beth yw'r disgwyliadau o ran trefniadau darparu gwasanaethau eirioli proffesiynol, annibynnol. 

Yn ei adolygiad o wasanaethau eirioli proffesiynol annibynnol ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc cymwys yn y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, canfu Comisiynydd Plant Cymru bod mynediad at wasanaethau eirioli, ynghyd â gwybodaeth a dealltwriaeth ohono, yn anghyson ar draws Cymru. Roedd hefyd yn feirniadol iawn o drefniadau comisiynu ar gyfer eiriolaeth yn y sector.  

Ym mis Mehefin 2012, cyhoeddwyd ein hymateb i adolygiad y Comisiynydd yn gosod y camau yr ydym yn bwriadu eu cymryd yn erbyn pob un o'r argymhellion ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cymru. Yna cyhoeddwyd y newyddion diweddaraf ynghylch y cynnydd ym mis Chwefror 2013, ynghyd â Datganiad er mwyn sicrhau bod Aelodau yn cael y wybodaeth ddiweddaraf.

Ymrwymiad mawr ar ein rhan ni oedd sefydlu Grŵp Arbenigol Gweinidogol ar Eiriolaeth a Grŵp Arbenigol Pobl Ifanc ar Eiriolaeth er mwyn ystyried y materion a godwyd gan y Comisiynydd, ac i ddarparu cyngor ac argymhellion ar ffordd ymlaen.

Rydym wedi gofyn i'r Grwpiau Arbenigol ddarparu argymhellion ynghylch:

* Comisiynu a darparu gwasanaethau eirioli
* Arolygu a rheoleiddio eiriolwyr/gwasanaethau eirioli
* Hyfforddiant ar gyfer eiriolwyr proffesiynol annibynnol
* Comisiynu eiriolaeth ar draws sectorau h.y. gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, iechyd ac addysg
* Codi ymwybyddiaeth a chynyddu dealltwriaeth ynghylch eiriolaeth ar lefel genedlaethol a lleol
* Darparu gwasanaethau eirioli i grwpiau arbennig o blant a phobl ifanc, fel plant ifanc iawn neu blant ag anableddau dysgu, corfforol a meddyliol.
* Darparu gwasanaethau eirioli i blant a phobl ifanc o rannau eraill o'r DU ond sy'n derbyn gofal yng Nghymru, a'r rhai o Gymru sy'n derbyn gofal yn rhywle arall.

Rydym yn cwrdd yn rheolaidd gyda Dr Mike Shooter, Cadeirydd y Grŵp Arbenigol, i drafod y cynnydd hyd yma. Mae ymrwymiad amlwg i gydweithio gyda ni er mwyn cael atebion posib i'r materion uchod, ac mae hynny’n galonogol.  Yn ddiweddar darparodd y Grwpiau Arbenigol adroddiad ac argymhellion ar gomisiynu a darparu gwasanaethau eirioli ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc, pobl sy'n gadael gofal a phlant mewn angen yng Nghymru.  Byddwn yn rhoi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am ein hymateb i’r argymhellion hynny i'r Aelodau yn y man.

Mae'n bwysig i ni aros am ganfyddiadau'r Grwpiau Arbenigol ac ystyried unrhyw argymhellion cyn cyhoeddi unrhyw ganllawiau pellach. Yn y cyfamser, rydym yn disgwyl i awdurdodau lleol weithio yn unol â'r ddeddfwriaeth a'r canllawiau sy'n bodoli ar hyn o bryd.

Er mwyn i ni fod yn hyderus bod hyn yn digwydd, rydym wedi comisiynu gwaith a fydd yn cynnwys archwilio a dadansoddi gwybodaeth sy'n cael ei darparu gan awdurdodau lleol yn erbyn y canllawiau sy'n bodoli, dadansoddiad cost a budd, a chwilio am arferion da y gellid eu rhannu. Bydd canfyddiadau'r gwaith hwn yn bwydo i mewn i gyngor ac argymhellion y Grwpiau Arbenigol.

Bydd y Comisiynydd Plant hefyd yn gwerthuso cynnydd Llywodraeth Cymru ac awdurdodau lleol yn erbyn yr argymhellion perthnasol yn ei adolygiad, ac fe fydd gennym ddiddordeb mawr yn ei ganfyddiadau.

Hefyd, rydym yn falch o’ch hysbysu y bydd Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru yn cynnal arolwg cenedlaethol ar ddechrau 2014\. Bydd yn edrych ar gynlluniau gofal a diogelu ar gyfer plant sy’n derbyn gofal a phobl sy’n gadael gofal, sy’n ymddwyn mewn ffordd agored i niwed neu beryglus. Bydd yr arolwg cenedlaethol yn ystyried a yw awdurdodau lleol yn hyrwyddo dulliau gweithredu ar sail hawliau ac a yw llais y plentyn, sy’n ganolog ar gyfer cynllunio gofal da, yn cael ei glywed a’i gymryd i ystyriaeth, a ble mae modd cael cymorth priodol gan gynnwys gwasanaethau eirioli.

Mae Eiriolaeth ar gyfer grwpiau agored i niwed yn fater pwysig iawn i’r ddau ohonom ac fe fyddwn yn parhau i roi arweiniad, cyfeiriad a chymorth i awdurdodau lleol.  Rydym wedi gwrando ar y sylwadau ac ystyried y dystiolaeth a gyflwynwyd o sawl cyfeiriad ynghylch swyddogaeth bwysig gwasanaethau eirioli a'r angen iddynt fod ar gael yn ehangach na'r hyn a welir ar hyn o bryd.

Yn ystod haf 2013, cyhoeddodd y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ddatganiad ysgrifenedig yn amlinellu ei bwriad i gyflwyno gwelliannau i'r Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) er mwyn ymestyn y ddarpariaeth ar gyfer eiriolaeth statudol. Roedd y gwelliannau hyn yn cadarnhau'r pwyslais y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ei roi ar sicrhau bod y rhai mwyaf anghenus a’r rhai sy'n mynd drwy gyfnod anodd yn cael cymorth i wneud penderfyniadau, a bod ganddynt lais cryf a rheolaeth dros eu bywydau.

Nid oedd y Pwyllgor Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol yn teimlo bod modd cefnogi’r gwelliannau hyn wrth graffu ar y Bil yn ystod cam 2\. Llwyddodd y Dirprwy Weinidog i gyflwyno gwelliant arall yn ystod cam 3 ar y mater pwysig hwn, a gyhoeddwyd ar 15 Ionawr. Rydym yn gobeithio y gall y ddarpariaeth bwysig hon fod yn rhan o’r Bil pan fydd yn cael Cydsyniad Brenhinol. Gellir gweld y gwelliant a gyhoeddwyd ar:  
http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/documents/s23140/Notice of Amendments 15 January 2014\.pdf

Rydym yn gweithio gyda Chomisiynydd Plant Cymru, Comisiynydd Pobl Hŷn Cymru a'r Grwpiau Arbenigol Gweinidogol ar Eiriolaeth er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn chwarae rhan yn y gwaith o lunio polisi yn y maes hwn yn y dyfodol, fel bod cysondeb o ran egwyddorion darpariaeth.  

Byddwn yn parhau i roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i Aelodau er mwyn sicrhau bod y cynnydd i’w weld yn glir ac yn dryloyw.

   





Translation:


 
The last year has seen significant attention focussed on inquiries and investigations into cases of historic child abuse. These serve as a stark reminder of the importance of being constantly vigilant in protecting the most vulnerable members of our society. A common theme in these cases was that children simply were not listened to, or not believed.  We cannot change the past, but we have to learn from it.


It has been over 10 years since the inquiry into child abuse in North Wales was conducted by Sir Ronald Waterhouse.   His report has since shaped the significance that we place on advocacy as a way of helping safeguard our children and ensuring that the events of the past never happen again.


We cannot emphasise enough the importance that should be placed on advocacy to ensure we listen to our children and young people when they say that things are not right, when they want help, when they want to be heard, when key decisions are being made that affect them, and when they need someone on their side.  


There are statutory requirements for local authorities to provide independent advocacy services for looked after children and young people, care leavers and children in need.  The provision of advocacy services must be absolutely central to the arrangements that local authorities operate to promote the well\-being of children. Alongside that, local authorities must also assure themselves that the quality of the advocacy services provided is sufficient to ensure the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements and that these vulnerable children and young people are able to access the services they deserve.


We are aware of some excellent practice across Wales. However, we are concerned that in some cases there seems to be confusion around what is expected of local authorities in relation to advocacy for these specific groups of children and young people. To ensure clarity, the Deputy Minister for Social Services has written to local authorities setting out what is expected of them in respect of arrangements for the provision and delivery of independent professional advocacy services.  


The review of independent professional advocacy services for eligible children and young people within social care by the Children’s Commissioner for Wales found that access, knowledge and understanding of advocacy were patchy and inconsistent across Wales.  He was also critical of the commissioning arrangements for advocacy in this sector.  


Our response to the Commissioner’s review, setting out our intended actions against each recommendation for the Welsh Government, was published in June 2012\. We subsequently published an update on progress in February 2013 along with a Statement to ensure Members were kept informed.


A major commitment on our part was the establishment of a Ministerial Expert Group on Advocacy and a Young Person’s Expert Group on Advocacy to consider the issues raised by the Commissioner and to provide us with advice and recommendations on a way forward.


We have remitted the Expert Groups to provide recommendations on:


 


* Commissioning and provision of advocacy services
* Inspection and regulation of advocates/advocacy services
* Training for independent professional advocates
* The commissioning of advocacy across sectors i.e. social care, health and education
* Raising awareness and understanding of advocacy on a national and local level
* The provision of advocacy to special groups of children and young people, such as very young children, children with learning, physical and mental disabilities
* The provision of advocacy to children and young people from elsewhere in the UK but looked after in Wales, and those from Wales looked after elsewhere.


 


We meet regularly with Dr Mike Shooter, Chair of the Expert Group, to discuss the progress of the work which is being undertaken.  The commitment to working together to provide us with potential solutions to the issues outlined above is both evident and reassuring.  The Expert Groups have recently provided us with a report and recommendations on commissioning and provision of advocacy services for looked after children and young people, care leavers and children in need in Wales.  We will update Members on our response to those recommendations in due course.


It is important that we await the findings of the Expert Groups and consider any recommendations that are made before issuing any further guidance.  In the meantime, we expect local authorities to work to the extant legislation and guidance.


To satisfy us that this is the case, we have commissioned work that will include the scrutiny and analysis of information that local authorities have provided against the extant guidance, a cost\-benefit analysis and a trawl of good practice that can be shared. The Expert Groups will use the findings of this work to inform their advice and recommendations.


The Children’s Commissioner will also be evaluating progress of Welsh Government and local authorities against our respective recommendations from his review and we will await his findings with interest.


In addition, we are pleased to inform you that CSSIW will be undertaking a national inspection in respect of safeguarding and care planning of Looked After Children and Care Leavers, who exhibit "Vulnerable or Risky Behaviour"  early in 2014\. The national inspection will consider whether local authorities are promoting a rights based approach to practice and whether the voice of the child, which is central to good care planning, is heard and listened to and where appropriate support including advocacy services is available.


Advocacy for vulnerable groups is high on both our agendas and we will continue to provide leadership, direction and support to local authorities.  We have heard the representations and considered the evidence submitted by many about the important role of advocacy and the need for it to be available in wider circumstances than is currently the case.


During the summer of 2013, the Deputy Minister for Social Services issued a written statement outlining her intention to bring forward government amendments to the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) to further extend provision for statutory advocacy. These amendments reinforced the importance that the Welsh Government places on ensuring that those who are in most need and who experience difficult times are supported in making decisions and have a strong voice and real control.  

The Health and Social Care Committee did not feel able to support these amendments during its scrutiny of the Bill at stage 2\.  The Deputy Minister has been able to bring forward another amendment at stage 3 on this important issue, which was published on 15 January and we hope that this important provision will be part of the Bill when it receives Royal Assent.   The published amendment can be found at:  

http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/documents/s23140/Notice of Amendments 15 January 2014\.pdf


We are working with the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales and the Ministerial Expert Groups on advocacy to ensure that they have a role in shaping future policy in this area so there is consistency in the principles of provision.  


We will continue to update Members to ensure there is clarity and transparency on progress.