Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
Today, the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) published its report (external link) of the planned inspection it undertook, in July this year, of Powys County Council’s Children’s Social Services (external link). The inspection identified a significant number of serious concerns and a wide range of shortcomings.


CSSIW’s inspection focused on the quality of leadership, management, and governance arrangements to develop and support services for children and young people. The inspection examined how children and families access help, care and support services, and considered the quality of outcomes achieved for children in need of assistance, care and support and/or protection of children including those looked after by the local authority.


I have serious concerns about Powys Children’s Services and I am today issuing a Warning Notice to Powys County Council. This is a serious step, but the report’s findings are such that they require strong action to be taken.


The warning notice (external link) is issued under Part 8 of the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Act 2014, sections 150\-161\. The notice includes:


* a requirement to prepare and submit a delivery focused Improvement Plan, setting out short term and long term milestones and for this plan to be published within 20 days from today. A timeframe for improvement for each recommendation will be included in the Improvement Plan
* a requirement to establish an Improvement Board to oversee the plan
* a requirement to appoint an interim Director of Social Services; and
* a requirement to develop a strategy to fill vacancies in Children’s Social Services all within a specified period.


I have met with the Leader and Chief Executive of Powys County Council to emphasise the seriousness with which the Welsh Government is approaching this situation, and to discuss the requirements of the Notice. I believe the Notice provides a focus and structure within set timescales for the Council to address the issues identified in the CSSIW inspection. Powys County Council has accepted the findings of the inspection report and is now preparing an Improvement Plan.


The Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 requires Welsh Ministers to lay a copy of the Warning Notice with the National Assembly for Wales within 21 days of issue to Powys County Council and then report to the National Assembly for Wales within 90 days of giving the Notice on the action taken by the Council. In response to these requirements, I have laid a copy of the Notice today and will provide Members with an update on progress within 90 days.


If I am not satisfied with Powys County Council’s progress in complying with the Warning Notice, I will not hesitate to use the powers provided to Welsh Government under the Social Services and Wellbeing Act to intervene more directly.







Translation:


 
Heddiw, cyhoeddodd Arolygiaeth Gofal a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cymru (AGGCC) adroddiad (dolen allanol) o'i arolygiad wedi'i gynllunio a gynhaliwyd, ym mis Gorffennaf eleni, ar Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Blant Cyngor Sir Powys . Nododd yr arolygiad amrywiaeth eang o ddiffygion a nifer sylweddol o bryderon difrifol. Canolbwyntiodd arolygiad AGGCC ar safon y trefniadau arwain, rheoli a llywodraethu i ddatblygu a chefnogi gwasanaethau cymorth i blant a phobl ifanc. Roedd yr arolygiad yn ymchwilio i’r ffordd y mae plant a theuluoedd yn cael mynediad at wasanaethau gofal a chymorth. Ystyriwyd hefyd ansawdd y canlyniadau a gyflawnwyd i blant sydd angen cefnogaeth, gofal a chymorth a/neu'r trefniadau ar gyfer amddiffyn plant, gan gynnwys y rheini sy'n derbyn gofal gan yr awdurdod lleol.

Mae gennyf bryderon difrifol am Wasanaethau Plant Powys, a heddiw rwy’n rhoi Hysbysiad Rhybuddio i Gyngor Sir Powys. Mae hwn yn gam difrifol ond mae canfyddiadau'r adroddiad yn golygu ei bod yn ofynnol cymryd camau gweithredu llym.

Rhoddir yr hysbysiad rhybuddio (dolen allanol) o dan Ran 8 o Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant (Cymru) 2014, adrannau 150\-161\. Mae'r Hysbysiad yn cynnwys:

* gofyniad i lunio a chyflwyno Cynllun Gwella sy'n canolbwyntio ar gyflawni, sy'n nodi cerrig milltir ar gyfer y tymor byr a'r tymor hir a bod y Cynllun hwn yn cael ei gyhoeddi o fewn 20 diwrnod i heddiw. Bydd y Cynllun Gwella yn cynnwys amserlen ar gyfer gwella yn achos pob un argymhelliad;
* gofyniad i sefydlu Bwrdd Gwella i oruchwylio'r Cynllun
* gofyniad i benodi Cyfarwyddwr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Dros Dro
* gofyniad i ddatblygu strategaeth i lenwi swyddi gwag yn y Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Blant, a hynny o fewn cyfnod penodedig.

Rwyf wedi cyfarfod ag Arweinydd a Phrif Weithredwr Cyngor Sir Powys i bwysleisio pa mor ddifrifol y mae Llywodraeth Cymru’n ystyried y sefyllfa, ac i drafod gofynion yr Hysbysiad. Rwyf o'r farn bod yr Hysbysiad yn darparu strwythur a ffocws, o fewn amserlen bendant, er mwyn i'r Cyngor fynd i'r afael â'r materion a nodwyd yn arolygiad AGGCC. Mae Cyngor Sir Powys wedi derbyn canfyddiadau'r adroddiad arolygu ac mae wrthi'n paratoi Cynllun Gwella ar hyn o bryd.

Mae’r Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant yn ei gwneud yn ofynnol i Weinidogion Cymru osod copi o'r Hysbysiad Rhybuddio gerbron Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru o fewn 21 diwrnod i'r dyddiad y'i rhoddir i Gyngor Sir Powys ac yna adrodd i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru o fewn 90 diwrnod i roi'r Hysbysiad ar y camau a gymerwyd gan y Cyngor. Rwyf wedi gosod copi o'r Hysbysiad heddiw ac fe fyddaf yn rhoi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf am y cynnydd ar y mater i’r Aelodau o fewn 90 diwrnod.

Os na fyddaf yn fodlon â chynnydd Cyngor Sir Powys yn cydymffurfio â’r Hysbysiad Rhybuddio, ni fyddaf yn oedi cyn defnyddio’r pwerau sy’n cael eu darparu i Lywodraeth Cymru dan y Ddeddf Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Llesiant i ymyrryd yn fwy uniongyrchol.