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Following the critical report, published last August, of the joint investigation by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and Estyn into the handling and management of allegations of professional abuse in Pembrokeshire, we took prompt and decisive action.  We issued a direction requiring the Council to address the immediate areas of concern, to submit an action plan to address the failures identified in the report, and to work with the Advisory Board which we appointed to provide support and challenge to the local authority in developing its action plan.


It was clear, on receipt of the action plan, that some progress had been made, but we were not convinced that Pembrokeshire could achieve the necessary step change without continued external support and challenge.  In October we issued a written statement, announcing the appointment of the Pembrokeshire Ministerial Board (PMB) to provide that support and challenge and we write now to update you on its work and the way forward.


The PMB has conducted a rigorous examination of the facts, both through desk research and through visiting Pembrokeshire to interview senior officers, key front line staff and elected members.


Since the PMB began working with the authority, there has been greater transparency, with key meetings being properly documented and papers disseminated to the full Council; provision of information where none was previously available; greater engagement of the Chief Executive with elected members; and professional support for scrutiny.  The membership of the Chief Officers’ Safeguarding Panel has been revised and CSSIW has reported improvements in the authority’s responses to the Inspectorate’s requests for evidence.


The previous Ministerial Advisory Board had identified the need to improve democracy and scrutiny through a revision of the Council’s Constitution, and following challenge by the PMB this work has been accelerated.  Elected members have now generally accepted the need to move from a dominant officer culture where scrutiny and open debate are largely absent.


But it is not all good news.  The PMB disagrees with the authority’s assertion that officers are no longer resistant to change.  While the PMB was greatly impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of front line staff, the culture at the most senior level continues to give cause for concern.  We note that the Auditor General also concluded in his report that the Council tended to be too complacent and informal, with inadequate senior and political oversight of key services.


Recent stories in the media have served to highlight some of the difficulties that remain.  There is a tendency to ask for advice about pressing issues which the authority should itself be resolving quickly and decisively; an inability to distinguish between information that should be shared and that which it is inappropriate, or even damaging, to share; and the continued failure to effectively address the serious concerns raised by a report into the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).  


The PMB has identified areas within its work plan for development.  These include continuing to challenge and support the reform of the Council’s Constitution and scrutiny process; addressing concerns about the operation of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB); challenging the authority and its partner agencies to demonstrate real commitment to an advocacy service that promotes the voice of the child; and tackling the lack of connection between education and social services, and between the corporate governance of the authority and operational practice.  


The PMB has noted that steps have been taken by the authority to tackle these weaknesses and will work with the authority to ensure that improvements continue and are embedded into the culture of the organisation at all levels.


The PMB has clearly been a positive force for change.  It is evident, however, that there is still a long way to go and it is vital that we keep our foot on the pedal.  We are particularly concerned to keep up momentum during the election period when elected Members’ capacity for holding officers to account may be compromised.  We have therefore asked the PMB to ensure its members spend time each week in Pembrokeshire, providing continued support and challenge to officers during this period.


We have asked the PMB to provide us with a report by the end of April, which will inform the approach to working with the new Council.  We have also requested that the PMB should meet the new full Council at the earliest opportunity during May.  We intend, with the PMB, to meet the new Leader and Cabinet as early as possible and will continue to monitor progress closely.  


In previous statements we have noted ongoing work in Pembrokeshire by a range of inspectorates and other agencies.  These include the investigation by CSSIW, Estyn, HMI Constabulary and HMI Probation into multi\-agency working; the Police and Social Services’ review of the PRU; and the Wales Audit Office’s (WAO) Special Inspection.   The WAO and CSSIW will be conducting an inspection of HR processes and procedures in May, with a focus on education, and will join with Estyn for a full reinspection in October.  These inspections will be critical in determining the way forward.


Whether further intervention is necessary will depend on the rate and extent of change in Pembrokeshire, and on the conclusions which the PMB and inspectorates reach about that. The Council has had, and continues to have, extensive support in solving its problems.  If that fails to secure sufficient progress, we will not hesitate to take further immediate and decisive action.







Translation:


 
      

 Cymerwyd camau pendant ar fyrder gennym yn dilyn yr adroddiad beirniadol, a gyhoeddwyd fis Awst diwethaf, gan yr ymchwiliad ar y cyd gan Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru (AGGCC) ac Estyn ar drafod a rheoli honiadau o gamymddwyn proffesiynol yn Sir Benfro.  Cyhoeddwyd cyfarwyddyd gennym yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i’r Cyngor fynd i’r afael â’r meysydd sydd o bryder dybryd, i gyflwyno cynllun gweithredu i fynd i’r afael â’r methiannau a nodwyd yn yr adroddiad, ac i weithio gyda’r Bwrdd Cynghori a benodwyd gennym i roi cymorth ac i herio’r awdurdod lleol wrth ddatblygu’r cynllun gweithredu.   

 Roedd yn amlwg, wedi derbyn y cynllun gweithredu, bod rhywfaint o gynnydd wedi’i wneud eisoes, ond nid oeddem wedi’n argyhoeddi y gallai Sir Benfro lwyddo i gymeryd y camau oedd eu hangen i newid heb gymorth a herio parhaus o’r tu allan.  Ym mis Hydref, cyhoeddwyd datganiad ysgrifenedig gennym, yn cyhoeddi penodi Bwrdd Cynghori’r Gweinidogion ar Sir Benfro i roi’r cymorth a’r her hwnnw, ac rydym yn nawr yn rhoi’r newyddion diweddaraf i chi ar ei waith a’r ffordd ymlaen.  

 Mae’r Bwrdd wedi archwilio’r ffeithiau’n drylwyr, trwy waith ymchwil desg a thrwy ymweld â Sir Benfro i gyfweld yr uwch swyddogion, staff rheng flaen allweddol ac aelodau sydd wedi’u hethol.  

 Ers i’r Bwrdd ddechrau gweithio gyda’r awdurdod, cafwyd mwy o dryloywder, gyda cyfarfodydd pwysig yn cael eu dogfennu’n iawn a’r papurau’n cael eu dosbarthu i’r Cyngor llawn; darparwyd gwybodaeth ble nad oedd dim ar gael cyn hynny; cafwyd mwy o gysylltiad rhwng y Prif Weithredwr ac aelodau sydd wedi’u hethol; a chymorth broffesiynol gyda craffu.  Mae aelodau Panel Diogelu y Prif Swyddogion wedi’i ddiwygio ac mae AGGCC wedi nodi gwelliant yn ymateb yr awdurdod i geisiadau yr Arolygiaeth am dystiolaeth.     

 Roedd y Bwrdd Cynghori Gweinidogion blaenorol wedi nodi’r angen i wella democratiaeth a chraffu trwy ddiwygio Cyfansoddiad y Cyngor, ac yn dilyn her gan Fwrdd Cynghori’r Gweinidogion ar Sir Benfro, mae’r gwaith hwn wedi’i gyflymu.  Mae’r aelodau sydd wedi’u hethol bellach wedi derbyn yn gyffredinol yr angen i symud o ddiwylliant swyddogion cryf ble y mae craffu a thrafodaeth agored mwy neu lai yn absennol.  

 Ond nid newyddion da yw’r cyfan.  Mae’r Bwrdd yn anghytuno gyda honiad yr awdurdod nad yw’r swyddogion bellach yn ymwrthod â’r newid.  Er bod brwdfrydedd ac ymrwymiad staff y rheng flaen wedi creu argraff fawr ar y Bwrdd, mae’r diwylliant ar y lefel uchaf yn parhau i fod yn destun pryder.  Noder bod yr Archwilydd Cyffredinol wedi dod i’r casgliad yn ei adroddiad bod y Cyngor yn tueddu i fod yn rhy hunanfodlon ac anffurfiol, gyda throsolwg ar lefel uwch ac yn wleidyddol o wasanaethau allweddol yn annigonol.   

 Mae hanesion diweddar ar y cyfryngau wedi tynnu sylw at rai o’r anawsterau sy’n parhau.  Mae tueddiad i ofyn am gyngor ar faterion o bwys y dylai’r awdurdod ei hun fod yn eu datrys ar fyrder, ac yn derfynol; methu gwahaniaethu rhwng gwybodaeth y dylid ei rhannu a’r wybodaeth y byddai’n amhriodol, os nad yn niweidiol, ei rhannu; a’r methiant cyson i fethu â mynd i’r afael â’r pryderon difrifol sy’n cael eu codi gan adroddiad ar yr Uned Cyfeirio Disgyblion.  

 Mae’r Bwrdd wedi nodi meysydd o fewn ei gynllun gwaith sydd i’w datblygu.  Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys parhau i herio a chefnogi’r broses o ddiwygio Cyfansoddiad y Cyngor a’r broses graffu; mynd i’r afael â’r pryderon ynghylch rhedeg y Bwrdd Lleol Diogelu Plant; herio’r awdurdod a’r asiantaethau sy’n bartneriaid i ddangos ymrwymiad gwirioneddol i wasanaeth eirioli sy’n hyrwyddo llais y plentyn; a mynd i’r afael â’r diffyg cysylltiad rhwng addysg a gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, a rhwng llywodraethu corfforaethol yr awdurdod ac arferion gweithredol.    

 Mae’r Bwrdd wedi nodi bod camau wedi’u cymryd gan yr awdurdod i fynd i’r afael â’r gwendidau hyn, a bydd yn gweithio gyda’r awdurdod i sicrhau bod y gwelliannau yn parhau ac yn cael eu cynnwys yn niwylliant y sefydliad ar bob lefel.    

 Bu’r Bwrdd yn amlwg yn rym positif i newid pethau.  Mae’n amlwg, fodd bynnag, bod llawer o waith i’w wneud eto, ac mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn parhau i bwyso ar yr awdurdod.  Rydym yn arbennig o awyddus i gadw’r momentwm yn ystod cyfnod yr etholiad pan fydd gallu Aelodau sydd wedi’u hethol  i wneud swyddogion yn atebol yn cael ei gyfaddawdu.  Rydym felly wedi gofyn i’r Bwrdd sicrhau bod ei aelodau yn treulio amser pob wythnos yn Sir Benfro, yn rhoi cymorth parhaus ac yn herio’r swyddogion yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.   

 Rydym wedi gofyn i’r Bwrdd baratoi adroddiad erbyn diwedd Ebrill, fydd yn llywio’r dull o weithio gyda’r Cyngor newydd.  Rydym hefyd wedi gofyn i’r Bwrdd gyfarfod y Cyngor llawn newydd cyn gynted â phosib yn ystod mis Mai.  Rydyn ni’n bwriadu cyfarfod yr Arweinydd newydd a’r Cabinet cyn gynted â phosib, gyda’r Bwrdd, a byddwn yn parhau i fonitro’r datblygiadau yn fanwl.     

 Mewn datganiadau blaenorol, rydym wedi nodi’r gwaith parhaol sy’n cael ei wneud yn Sir Benfro gan amrywiol arolygiaethau ac asiantaethau eraill.  Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys ymchwiliadau gan AGGCC, Estyn, Arolygiaeth Cwnstabliaeth Ei Mawrhydi ac Arolygiaeth Prawf Ei Mawrhydi i weithio aml\-asiantaethol; arolwg yr Heddlu a’r Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol o’r Unedau Cyfeirio Disgyblion; ac Arolygiaeth Arbennig Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru.  Bydd Swyddfa Archwilio Cymru ac AGGCC yn cynnal arolwg o brosesau a gweithdrefnau Adnoddau Dynol ym mis Mai, gan ganolbwyntio ar addysg, a bydd yn ymuno ag Estyn am ail arolwg llawn ym mis Hydref.  Bydd yr arolygon hyn yn hanfodol i benderfynu ar y ffordd ymlaen.   

 Mae penderfynu a oes angen ymyrraeth bellach yn dibynnu ar gyflymder a graddfa’r newidiadau yn Sir Benfro, a chasgliadau Bwrdd Cynghori’r Gweinidogion ar Sir Benfro ynglŷn â hyn.  Mae’r Cyngor wedi cael, ac yn parhau i gael cymorth helaeth i ddatrys ei broblemau.  Os na fydd hynny’n llwyddo i sicrhau datblygiadau digonol, byddwn yn cymryd camau pellach a phendant ar unwaith.