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I would like to update Members on Safeguarding and Protecting Children in NHS Wales.


Ensuring our children are safe and protected from harm is a high priority for the Welsh Government. As such, I wish to ensure that Safeguarding and Protecting Children in NHS Wales remains visibly high on all our agendas and that it continues to play avital role alongside other key agencies in ensuring children in Wales are  safeguarded and protected. I am pleased that progress has been made. Inevitably though there is more to do. This is my annual statement to the National Assembly on Safeguarding and Protecting Children in NHS Wales.


On 30 September a campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of head injury from shaking babies was launched with a conference held by the Safeguarding Children Service, Public Health Wales, in conjunction with Children in Wales. The event was chaired by my Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Jean White, with the strong and essential objective of properly educating parents of the dangers of shaking babies with a view to reducing the number of infants killed or seriously harmed in this way.


The Welsh Government has revised the programme level agreement with the Safeguarding Children Service, Public Health Wales, which sets out our clear expectations for the delivery of this essential service. The Safeguarding Children Service provides independent safeguarding advice and overarching support for child safeguarding activity in NHS Wales, as well as clinical leadership through the NHS Safeguarding Children Network.  This network is now well embedded and has a programme of work designed to continue to drive good practice that includes sharing best practice and learning as well as developing all Wales policies and protocols.


A new quality outcomes framework has been implemented across NHS Wales. This is being used by Local Health Boards and NHS Trusts to self assess how well they are contributing to the delivery of good outcomes for children and young people.  Annual findings will assist in establishing standards and in setting tangible objectives that will steer improvement on an all\-Wales basis.


An expert working group on safeguarding training for NHS Wales has recommended an agreed set of standards and uniformity for delivery across NHS staff, primary care practitioners and for contractor services, volunteers and the third sector.  The intercollegiate document published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health on behalf of contributing organisations has been adopted for implementation across Wales. This definitive reference point will ensure clarity for all sectors and increase the portability of the training for staff/contractors/volunteers moving around Wales and the UK. Evidence of such training is to be documented on the Electronic Staff Record and will assist in compliance reporting to the Local Health Board and identifying when training updates are required. The onus has been on NHS organisations to demonstrate they are meeting the requirements and address any deficits. Health Board and Trust Chief Executives must ensure that relevant reports and updates on safeguarding training are included as a standard part of the annual report.


Clarification has also been provided to the NHS on the need for repeat Disclosure \& Barring Service (DBS) checks for staff involved in the care of children. Health Boards and Trusts must comply with the requirements of Welsh Government guidance.  They must ensure that where it is a mandatory requirement, an employee should have a DBS check on employment, and checks should be made routinely and at repeated intervals of no more than 3 years (throughout the period of employment). Health Boards and Trusts have also been made aware that with the introduction of the DBS in December 2012 there is a new definition of ‘regulated activity’ in relation to children. Health Boards and Trusts must ensure that their checking procedures are compliant with legislation and that checks are only made where it is legal to do so.


New Child Practice Reviews came into effect on 1 January in Wales, replacing the Serious Case Reviews.  I know that colleagues in the NHS were pivotal to the development of these arrangements. This new, innovative framework moves away from the ‘blame culture’ previously associated with child protection cases and should improve the process of learning and review for all professionals involved in child protection work.  This new framework will also build on, and improve, the quality and sustainability of the children’s safeguarding arrangements we have in place today.    


Research into use of the Wales Accord on the Sharing of Personal Information (WASPI) framework to develop Information Sharing Protocols, including in a safeguarding context, has now been published. We will be taking the views of safeguarding leads from health and social services on the findings and any actions that may be needed. The latter will then be published.


During the past year a consolidated programme of work has been put in place through legislation and guidance to further strengthen multi\-agency safeguarding arrangements in Wales.  The Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM, introduced the Social Service and Well\-being (Wales) Bill into the National Assembly in January.  The Bill will help create a solid foundation for fundamental change and will strengthen safeguarding and protection arrangements.    


These new arrangements will ensure that local agencies are supported by more robust leadership and a stronger, more effective framework for multi\-agency co\-operation.  The Bill includes provision to establish a new National Independent Safeguarding Board which will help drive up standards, and improve consistency and will also be responsible for advising Ministers on the adequacy and effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements.


The Welsh Government has always recognised that multi\-agency co\-operation is critical to effective safeguarding – safeguarding is everyone’s business. The evidence we have demonstrates that Local Safeguarding Children Boards are not working in the way we had hoped, and are unable to demonstrate how they are effectively safeguarding children. We need to address this and to ensure that a better framework for action exists which ensures improvement and consistency in the work of Boards. The Deputy Minister has always been clear that the way to achieve this is through reducing the number of Boards to ensure consistency, improvement and sustainability. I know that a number of areas in Wales have already moved to a more collaborative footprint, well in advance of the legislation coming into place.


The Deputy Minister has recently established the Safeguarding Advisory Panel – chaired by Phil Hodgson – to work with key stakeholders to build the detailed arrangements to ensure the effective implementation of the Bill provisions. It is absolutely critical that the NHS Wales ensures that it is at the heart of this vital work.  


The Deputy Minister has made a written statement on the progress in developing safeguarding and protection arrangements for implementation through the Bill. The Bill seeks to break down artificial barriers based on age, and introduces the broader concept of a people model. In a safeguarding context, this will be most obvious to see with the establishment, subject to scrutiny and the approval by the National Assembly of a National Independent Safeguarding Board, covering both adults and children. I support this approach and intend to adopt a similar one in my Ministerial statements which, in future, will address the safeguarding responsibilities of the NHS of not only children, but also adults who are considered to be at risk.


 







Translation:


 
Hoffwn roi diweddariad i’r Aelodau ar y gwaith o Ddiogelu ac Amddiffyn Plant o fewn GIG Cymru. 

 Mae sicrhau bod ein plant yn ddiogel ac yn cael eu hamddiffyn rhag niwed yn un o flaenoriaethau pennaf Llywodraeth Cymru. Felly, rwy’n awyddus i sicrhau bod Diogelu ac Amddiffyn Plant o fewn GIG Cymru yn dal i gael lle amlwg ar agenda pob un ohonom, a’n bod ni ac asiantaethau allweddol eraill yn dal i wneud cyfraniad hanfodol at sicrhau bod plant Cymru yn cael eu diogelu a’u hamddiffyn. Rwy’n falch fod cynnydd wedi’i wneud, ond mae’n anorfod fod rhagor o ffordd i fynd. Hwn yw fy natganiad blynyddol i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ar Ddiogelu ac Amddiffyn Plant o fewn GIG Cymru. 

 Lansiwyd ymgyrch ar 30 Medi i godi ymwybyddiaeth y cyhoedd o beryglon anaf i’r pen yn sgil ysgwyd babanod, mewn cynhadledd a gynhaliwyd gan Wasanaeth Diogelu Plant Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, ar y cyd â Plant yng Nghymru. Yr Athro Jean White, y Prif Swyddog Nyrsio, oedd yn cadeirio’r digwyddiad. Roedd yr ymgyrch yn canolbwyntio’n llwyr ar ddysgu rhieni am beryglon ysgwyd babanod, gyda golwg ar leihau nifer y babanod sy’n cael eu lladd neu eu hanafu’n ddifrifol fel hyn. 

 Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi diwygio’r cytundeb lefel rhaglen gyda Gwasanaeth Diogelu Plant Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, sy’n nodi ein disgwyliadau eglur o ran darparu’r gwasanaeth hollbwysig hwn. Mae’r Gwasanaeth Diogelu Plant yn darparu cyngor annibynnol ar ddiogelu a chefnogaeth gyffredinol i weithgarwch diogelu plant o fewn GIG Cymru. Mae hefyd yn darparu arweinyddiaeth glinigol drwy Rwydwaith Diogelu Plant y GIG. Mae’r Rhwydwaith wedi hen ennill ei blwyf erbyn hyn ac mae ganddo raglen waith sy’n ceisio parhau i hybu arferion da, gan gynnwys rhannu arferion gorau a dysgu, yn ogystal â datblygu polisïau a phrotocolau ar gyfer Cymru gyfan. 

 Rhoddwyd fframwaith canlyniadau ansawdd newydd ar waith ar draws GIG Cymru. Caiff ei ddefnyddio gan Fyrddau Iechyd Lleol ac Ymddiriedolaethau’r GIG fel y gallant asesu eu cyfraniad at sicrhau canlyniadau da i blant a phobl ifanc. Bydd y casgliadau blynyddol yn helpu i sefydlu safonau a phennu amcanion pendant a fydd yn llywio gwelliannau drwy Gymru gyfan.

 Mae gweithgor arbenigol ar hyfforddiant diogelwch ar gyfer GIG Cymru wedi argymell set gyffredin o safonau, fel bod staff y GIG, ymarferwyr gofal sylfaenol, contractwyr, gwirfoddolwyr a’r trydydd sector yn dilyn yr un drefn wrth ddarparu gwasanaethau.  Mabwysiadwyd y ddogfen rhyng\-golegol a gyhoeddwyd gan y Coleg Brenhinol Pediatreg ac Iechyd Plant ar ran y sefydliadau a gyfrannodd ati, i’w rhoi ar waith ledled Cymru.  Bydd y ddogfen gyfeirio benodol hon yn sicrhau eglurder i bob sector ac yn gwneud yr hyfforddiant ar gyfer staff/contractwyr/gwirfoddolwyr yn fwy perthnasol wrth iddynt symud o gwmpas Cymru a’r DU. Caiff tystiolaeth o’r hyfforddiant ei chofnodi ar y Cofnod Staff Electronig, a bydd hyn yn helpu wrth adrodd i’r Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol am gyfraddau cydymffurfio, a nodi a oes angen diweddaru’r hyfforddiant. Sefydliadau’r GIG a arferai fod yn gyfrifol am ddangos eu bod yn bodloni’r gofynion, ac ymateb i unrhyw ddiffygion. Rhaid i Brif Weithredwyr y Byrddau a’r Ymddiriedolaethau Iechyd sicrhau bod adroddiadau a diweddariadau perthnasol ar hyfforddiant diogelu yn cael eu cynnwys yn yr adroddiad blynyddol fel mater o drefn. 

 Rhoddwyd esboniad i’r GIG o’r angen i ailadrodd gwiriadau’r Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd ar gyfer staff sy’n gofalu am blant. Rhaid i Fyrddau ac Ymddiriedolaethau Iechyd gydymffurfio â gofynion canllawiau Llywodraeth Cymru. Rhaid iddynt sicrhau bod pob gweithiwr gael gwiriad y Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd pan gaiff ei gyflogi gyntaf, os yw hynny’n fandadol, a bod gwiriadau yn cael eu cynnal yn rheolaidd bob 3 blynedd o leiaf, drwy gydol y cyfnod y caiff y gweithiwr ei gyflogi. Rhoddwyd gwybod i’r Byrddau a’r Ymddiriedolaethau Iechyd hefyd fod diffiniad newydd o ‘weithgaredd a reoleiddir’ mewn perthynas â phlant erbyn hyn, yn sgil cyflwyno’r Gwasanaeth Datgelu a Gwahardd ym mis Rhagfyr 2012\. Rhaid i Fyrddau ac Ymddiriedolaethau Iechyd sicrhau bod eu gweithdrefnau gwirio yn cydymffurfio â’r ddeddfwriaeth ac mai dim ond os yw hynny’n gyfreithiol y cynhelir gwiriadau. 

 Daeth Adolygiadau Ymarfer Plant newydd i rym yng Nghymru ar 1 Ionawr, gan ddisodli’r Adolygiadau Achos Difrifol. Rwy’n gwybod bod cydweithwyr o fewn y GIG wedi gwneud cyfraniad allweddol at ddatblygu’r trefniadau hyn. Mae’r fframwaith newydd, blaengar hwn yn symud oddi wrth y ‘diwylliant o feio’ a arferai fod yn gysylltiedig ag achosion amddiffyn plant. Dylai hyn wella’r broses o ddysgu ac adolygu ar gyfer pob gweithiwr proffesiynol sy’n ymwneud ag amddiffyn plant. Bydd y fframwaith newydd hwn hefyd yn datblygu ac yn gwella ansawdd a chynaladwyedd y trefniadau sydd gennym heddiw i ddiogelu plant.    

 Bellach cyhoeddwyd ffrwyth yr ymchwil i’r defnydd o fframwaith Cytundeb Rhannu Gwybodaeth Bersonol Cymru (WASPI) wrth ddatblygu Protocolau ar gyfer Rhannu Gwybodaeth, gan gynnwys yng nghyd\-destun diogelu. Byddwn yn gwrando ar farn arweinwyr ar ddiogelu yn y gwasanaeth iechyd a’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol am y canfyddiadau ac unrhyw gamau y gall fod angen eu cymryd. Caiff hyn ei gyhoeddi wedyn. 

 Trefnwyd rhaglen waith gyfun yn ystod y flwyddyn a aeth heibio, yn sgil y ddeddfwriaeth a’r canllawiau, er mwyn parhau i gryfhau trefniadau diogelu amlasiantaeth yng Nghymru. Cyflwynodd Gwenda Thomas AC, y Dirprwy Weinidog Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Fil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) i’r Cynulliad ym mis Ionawr. Bydd y Bil yn helpu i greu sylfaen gadarn ar gyfer newid sylfaenol, gan gryfhau trefniadau diogelu ac amddiffyn.    

 Bydd y trefniadau newydd hyn yn sicrhau bod asiantaethau lleol yn cael arweiniad mwy cadarn i’w cefnogi, a fframwaith cryfach a mwy effeithiol ar gyfer cydweithio amlasiantaethol. Mae’r Bil yn cynnwys darpariaeth ar gyfer sefydlu Bwrdd Diogelu Annibynnol Cenedlaethol newydd a fydd yn helpu i godi safonau a gwella cysondeb. Bydd hefyd yn gyfrifol am roi gwybod i’r Gweinidogion pa mor ddigonol ac effeithiol yw’r trefniadau diogelu. 

 Mae Llywodraeth Cymru wastad wedi cydnabod bod cydweithredu amlasiantaethol yn hollbwysig er mwyn diogelu’n effeithiol, a bod diogelu yn fater i bawb. Yn ôl y dystiolaeth sydd o’n blaenau nid yw’r Byrddau Lleol Diogelu Plant yn gweithio yn y ffordd roeddem wedi gobeithio, ac ni allant ddangos eu bod yn diogelu plant yn effeithiol. Mae angen mynd i’r afael â hyn a sicrhau bod gennym well fframwaith ar gyfer gweithredu sy’n sicrhau bod gwaith y Byrddau yn gwella ac yn dod yn fwy cyson. Mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi credu erioed bod angen cael llai o Fyrddau er mwyn gwneud hyn, a hynny er mwyn sicrhau cysondeb, gwella’r ffordd maent yn gweithredu a’u gwneud yn fwy cynaliadwy. Gwn fod sawl ardal yng Nghymru eisoes wedi sefydlu patrwm mwy cydweithredol, ymhell cyn i’r ddeddfwriaeth ddod i rym.  

 Sefydlodd y Dirprwy Weinidog y Panel Cynghori ar Ddiogelu yn ddiweddar. Phil Hodgson yw’r cadeirydd ac mae’r Panel yn gweithio gyda rhanddeiliaid allweddol i ddatblygu’r trefniadau manwl i sicrhau bod darpariaethau’r Bil yn cael eu gweithredu’n effeithiol. Mae’n hollbwysig bod GIG Cymru yn sicrhau bod hyn wrth wraidd y gwaith hanfodol hwn.  

 Mae’r Dirprwy Weinidog wedi paratoi datganiad ysgrifenedig ar hynt y gwaith o ddatblygu trefniadau diogelu ac amddiffyn i’w gweithredu drwy’r Bil. Mae’r Bil yn ceisio chwalu rhwystrau artiffisial sy’n seiliedig ar oed, ac yn cyflwyno’r cysyniad ehangach o fodel yn seiliedig ar bobl. Yng nghyd\-destun diogelu, bydd hyn i’w weld yn fwyaf amlwg yn sgil sefydlu Bwrdd Diogelu Annibynnol Cenedlaethol ar gyfer plant ac oedolion fel ei gilydd, wedi i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol graffu arno a’i gymeradwyo. Rwyf o blaid symud ymlaen fel hyn ac rwy’n bwriadu gweithredu mewn modd tebyg yn fy natganiadau Gweinidogol pellach, a fydd yn mynd i’r afael â chyfrifoldebau diogelu’r GIG ar gyfer plant ac ar gyfer oedolion y bernir eu bod mewn perygl.