Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
 


 


  

  

Exactly one year ago today I set out my developing approach to safeguard and protect people in Wales. I would like to up\-date Members on the action we have taken and my plans for the future.


I have this week published the summary of responses to the consultation on the Social Services (Wales) Bill which took place in the spring and early summer.  Members will already be aware from my statement in June that over 500 people were engaged at a range of public events across Wales, including vulnerable groups such as disabled and looked after children, care leavers and young carers. In addition, some 275 written responses to the consultation were received and have been analysed. The response has been extremely constructive and I have been pleased to find that there is a real consensus for our broad proposals to safeguard and protect. This level of public engagement is absolutely critical to the success of our plans.


As with any proposals for change some turbulence is inevitable. It is essential that people are allowed a proper opportunity to express their views before we get down to the hard work. It has been equally important to ensure that, when people have taken the time to engage, we listen very carefully to what they have had to say. Consultation and engagement are critical, and so is decision making.


The Bill will be a pivotal delivery mechanism for implementing key aspects of our agenda. We need to be absolutely clear that effective safeguarding can only be achieved through consistent multi\-agency action.


I welcome the Minister for Health and Social Services’ statement on safeguarding and protecting children in NHS Wales of 2 September, which outlined action in addressing the recommendations of Professor Sir Mansel Aylward. This excellent work is key to the NHS ensuring it achieves its safeguarding obligations, and continues to play its role alongside other statutory partners. We need to ensure that all key safeguarding agencies keep an equal and diligent focus on arrangements to safeguard and protect.  


The scope of the Bill will extend beyond social services boundaries, and this is particularly critical in safeguarding and protection. My responsibility is to ensure that the framework, within which all agencies operate, facilitates the effective multi\-agency approach essential to robust safeguarding arrangements. Social services will always be pivotal to the effectiveness of those arrangements, but all the partners must recognise that a consistent approach needs to be at the heart of safeguarding.  


I know that comments were expressed during the consultation, and through my Partnership Forum arrangements, that the title of the Bill did not adequately reflect the multi\-agency input required to deliver the Sustainable Social Services agenda, especially in the safeguarding context. Therefore, we will in future be referring to the draft Bill by its ‘working title’ of the Social Services and Well\-being (Wales) Bill. On current plans, the draft Bill will be introduced to the Assembly in late January 2013\.


Last October, I set out my intentions to use the Bill to improve leadership, collaboration through multi\-agency working and to introduce a more coherent approach to protecting adults at risk. Current evidence shows that our arrangements to protect children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect are generally effective. However, we can always do better. I believe that with the quality and commitment of our partners, and particularly the dedication of our frontline practitioners, we can do just that.


Leadership is paramount. I have previously set out my commitment to establish a National Independent Safeguarding Board. The results of consultation demonstrated broad agreement that the strategic focus a National Board could provide would be a constructive step. I am minded to pursue my intention to establish a new Board under the legislation. There are many models which might be considered, but my view currently is that the Board will need to be able to advise me on the adequacy and effectiveness of safeguarding and on action to help strengthen policy and improve practice. It might also have a critical role in providing support and advice to Safeguarding Boards, with a view to ensuring their effectiveness. The watchword for the work of the Board will be improvement.


Effective collaboration and multi\-agency working are pre\-requisites to the delivery of our responsibilities. I have said that I would be adopting the Public Service Delivery footprint of six for Safeguarding Children Boards and the new statutory equivalent for adults. I continue to be committed to that, but we also need to future proof our proposals to accommodate any changes we may want to make in later years. We have also received support through the consultation to ensure more robust funding arrangements for Boards, and a signal that further work is required to better understand the advantages of Boards having independent Chairs. I have decided not to seek to prescribe this latter point through statute, but I think that there is work to be done so that Boards can make more informed choices. This work will be put in hand. We might also take this opportunity to ensure synergy between the statutory members of the adults and children Boards.


Last October, I was clear that existing Local Safeguarding Children Boards should start planning for change in advance of the legislation. I have received a report on progress being made against the new model and am very pleased that some of the new Board structures will be in place as soon as the spring of 2013\. I will continue to urge all LSCBs to make significant progress so that all the risks have been properly assessed and discharged before the legislation requires the change.


I had proposed that alongside Safeguarding Children Boards, we would establish Adult Protection Boards on a statutory basis. I am pleased that there was considerable support for this. I am however attracted to the idea that these Boards should have a wider remit than protection alone, and it is my intention to propose that Safeguarding Adults Boards, with specific focus on adults at risk, be established under the legislation.


While not formally part of the consultation, the proposal that these Boards should merge in time is one that has received considerable comment. I continue to be committed to the   principle that we must begin to break down any artificial barriers based on age, but recognise and appreciate the anxieties expressed. Initially the new Boards will operate in parallel, and the proposed legislation will allow decisions on mergers to be made locally within the framework of improving safeguarding arrangements for everyone. I have also asked for the draft Bill to include provision for Ministers to reserve the right to merge Boards.


I am pleased that I am able to make available half a million pounds additional funding in this financial year to assist local authorities and key partners in the transition to new service and governance models. I expect local authorities to work with partners in developing the new safeguarding footprint of 6\. This is a priority for delivery.


I do not underestimate the complexity, but I have been very reassured by the overwhelming support for our proposal to develop a legal framework to protect adults at risk. I am minded to take forward provisions to include the range of features outlined in the consultation, placing key legal duties on local authorities and others, such as those in the health service and the police to protect adults at risk. Given the strength of feeling that has been expressed, I am attracted to the idea of providing practitioners with new intervention powers to ensure access to suspected victims of abuse while maintaining the principle that the adult’s wishes form the basis of any support given.  This framework will ensure that, as with children, there is a consistent and effective multi\-agency response to adult abuse and will be complimented by the forthcoming domestic abuse legislation that the Minister for Local Government and Communities will be bringing forward.    

   

The development of these arrangements is indicative of the maturity that the Welsh Government has reached in a relatively short space of time. However, the devolution settlement – and particularly the key role that the police and other non\-devolved agencies play – means that some areas are dependent on the agreement of the UK Government.  My officials have already begun discussions on areas which require wider agreement, and we will continue to press for what we believe to be the best for Wales.


Our thinking has moved on in many areas, and we have made progress. I recognise though that considerable work remains. I do not underestimate the scale of the task. The involvement of stakeholders thus far has been critical. We established with the help of key stakeholders the Safeguarding and Protection Advisory Network earlier in the year, and the significance of that Network will grow as we begin to build the detail of the provisions that will be included in the regulations and guidance that will underpin the Bill. I know that I can rely on their enthusiasm, commitment and expertise to take us forward.  


I am also committed to developing a core of expertise to help me to develop the detail of our proposals and it is my intention therefore to establish a Shadow Safeguarding Board before the end of this financial year. I will ensure that Members are kept informed of progress in developing this work.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 







Translation:


 
  
Flwyddyn union yn ôl i heddiw, amlinellais y dull o ddiogelu ac amddiffyn pobl Cymru sy’n cael ei ddatblygu gennyf. Hoffwn roi’r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i’r Aelodau am y camau rydym wedi’u cymryd, a’m cynlluniau ar gyfer y dyfodol.

Yr wythnos hon cyhoeddais grynodeb o’r ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad ar Fil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol (Cymru) a gynhaliwyd yn ystod y gwanwyn a dechrau’r haf. Bydd yr Aelodau eisoes yn gwybod, yn sgil fy natganiad ym mis Mehefin, fod dros 500 o bobl wedi cymryd rhan mewn amrywiaeth o ddigwyddiadau cyhoeddus ledled Cymru, gan gynnwys grwpiau agored i niwed fel plant anabl a phlant sy’n derbyn gofal, pobl ifanc sy’n gadael gofal a gofalwyr ifanc. Derbyniwyd rhyw 275 o ymatebion ysgrifenedig i’r ymgynghoriad hefyd, ac mae’r rhain wedi’u dadansoddi. Roedd yr ymateb yn adeiladol dros ben ac roeddwn yn falch o weld fod gwir gefnogaeth i’n cynigion bras i ddiogelu ac amddiffyn. Mae ennyn diddordeb y cyhoedd i’r graddau hyn yn gwbl allweddol i lwyddiant ein cynlluniau.

Fel yn achos unrhyw gynigion ar gyfer newid, mae rhywfaint o gythrwfl yn anorfod. Mae’n hollbwysig fod pobl yn cael cyfle iawn i fynegi eu barn cyn inni ymroi i’r gwaith caled. Roedd yr un mor bwysig ein bod yn gwrando’n ofalus ar yr hyn yr oedd gan bobl i’w ddweud, ar ôl iddynt gymryd yr amser i ymateb. Mae ymgynghori a chysylltu yn hanfodol, fel y mae gwneud penderfyniadau.

Bydd y Bil yn ddull canolog o weithredu agweddau pwysig o’n hagenda. Mae angen inni fod yn gwbl eglur mai dim ond drwy weithredu amlasiantaethol cyson y gellir diogelu’n effeithiol.

Rwy’n croesawu datganiad y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar ddiogelu ac amddiffyn plant o fewn GIG Cymru, dyddiedig 2 Medi, sy’n amlinellu’r camau i fynd i’r afael ag argymhellion yr Athro Syr Mansel Aylward. Mae’r gwaith rhagorol hwn yn hollbwysig er mwyn sicrhau bod y GIG yn cyflawni ei rwymedigaethau o ran diogelu, ac yn parhau i wneud ei ran ochr yn ochr â’r partneriaid statudol eraill. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod yr holl brif asiantaethau diogelu’n canolbwyntio’n ddiwyd, ac i’r un graddau â’i gilydd, ar drefniadau diogelu ac amddiffyn.  

Bydd cwmpas y Bil yn ymestyn y tu hwnt i ffiniau’r gwasanaethau cymdeithasol, ac mae hynny’n arbennig o bwysig o ran diogelu ac amddiffyn. Fy nghyfrifoldeb i yw sicrhau bod y fframwaith y bydd yr holl asiantaethau yn gweithredu o’i fewn yn hwyluso’r ffordd iddynt weithredu’n effeithiol. Mae hynny’n hollbwysig er mwyn sicrhau trefniadau diogelu cadarn.  Bydd y gwasanaethau cymdeithasol bob amser yn ganolog i effeithiolrwydd y trefniadau hynny, ond rhaid i’r holl bartneriaid sylweddoli bod rhaid i ddiogelu fod yn seiliedig ar ddull cyson o weithredu.  

Yn sgil y sylwadau yn yr ymatebion i’r ymgynghoriad, a thrwy drefniadau’r Fforwm Partneriaid, rwy’n gwybod bod amryw o’r farn nad yw teitl y Bil yn adlewyrchu’r mewnbwn amlasiantaethol sydd ei angen i gyflawni’r agenda Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol Cynaliadwy, yn enwedig yng nghyd\-destun diogelu. Yn y dyfodol, felly, byddwn yn defnyddio ei ‘deitl gwaith’, sef Bil Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a Lles (Cymru), wrth gyfeirio at y Bil drafft hwn. Ar sail y cynlluniau presennol, caiff y Bil drafft ei gyflwyno i’r Cynulliad ddiwedd mis Ionawr 2013\.

Fis Hydref diwethaf, dywedais fy mod yn bwriadu defnyddio’r Bil i wella arweiniad a chydweithredu drwy waith amlasiantaeth, a chyflwyno dull mwy trefnus o amddiffyn oedolion mewn perygl. Mae’r dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf yn dangos bod ein trefniadau i amddiffyn plant ac oedolion sydd mewn perygl o gael eu cam\-drin neu eu hesgeuluso yn effeithiol, ar y cyfan. Ond mae lle i wella o hyd. Credaf fod safon ac ymrwymiad ein partneriaid, ac ymroddiad ein hymarferwyr rheng flaen yn arbennig, yn golygu bod modd inni wneud hynny.  

Mae arweiniad yn hollbwysig. Rwyf eisoes wedi nodi fy ymrwymiad i sefydlu Bwrdd Diogelu Annibynnol Cenedlaethol. Dangosodd canlyniadau’r ymgynghoriad fod cytundeb eang y byddai’r ffocws strategol y gallai Bwrdd Cenedlaethol ei ddarparu yn gam adeiladol. Rwy’n awyddus i fwrw ymlaen â’m bwriad i sefydlu Bwrdd newydd o dan y ddeddfwriaeth. Mae yna sawl model posibl, ond ar hyn o bryd rwyf o’r farn y bydd angen i’r Bwrdd allu fy nghynghori ynghylch pa mor ddigonol ac effeithiol yw’r trefniadau diogelu, a pha gamau y dylwn eu cymryd er mwyn helpu i gryfhau polisi a gwella arferion. Gallai hefyd fod â rôl hanfodol o ran rhoi cymorth a chyngor i Fyrddau Diogelu, gyda golwg ar sicrhau eu bod yn effeithiol. Gwella fydd arwyddair gwaith y Bwrdd.

Mae cydweithredu effeithiol a gwaith amlasiantaeth yn anhepgor er mwyn cyflawni ein cyfrifoldebau. Rwyf wedi dweud y byddaf yn mabwysiadu’r patrwm Darparu Gwasanaethau Cyhoeddus o chwe Bwrdd Diogelu Plant, a’r cyrff statudol ar gyfer oedolion sy’n cyfateb iddynt. Rwy’n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i hynny, ond mae angen inni hefyd sicrhau bod ein cynigion yn gallu gwrthsefyll unrhyw newidiadau y gallem fod eisiau eu cyflwyno mewn blynyddoedd diweddarach. Mae’r ymgynghoriad hefyd wedi dangos cefnogaeth i’n cynnig i sicrhau trefniadau ariannu mwy cadarn ar gyfer y Byrddau, ac wedi rhoi arwydd fod angen gwaith pellach er mwyn deall manteision cael Cadeiryddion annibynnol i’r Byrddau. Rwyf wedi penderfynu peidio â phennu’r pwynt diwethaf hwn mewn statud, ond credaf fod angen gweithio i sicrhau bod Byrddau yn gallu gwneud dewisiadau mwy gwybodus. Byddwn yn troi ein sylw at hyn. Efallai y byddwn hefyd yn manteisio ar y cyfle hwn i sicrhau bod aelodau statudol y Byrddau oedolion ac aelodau statudol y Byrddau plant yn cydweithio er mwyn cyflawni’r un nod.

Fis Hydref diwethaf, dywedais yn glir y dylai Byrddau Lleol Diogelu Plant ddechrau cynllunio ar gyfer newid cyn y ddeddfwriaeth. Rwyf wedi derbyn adroddiad ar hynt y gwaith o weithredu’r model newydd ac rwy’n falch dros ben y bydd rhai o’r strwythurau Bwrdd newydd ar waith mor fuan â gwanwyn 2013\. Byddaf yn parhau i annog yr holl Fyrddau i gymryd camau sylweddol fel bod yr holl risgiau wedi’u hasesu a’u hwynebu’n briodol cyn i’r ddeddfwriaeth fynnu eu bod yn newid.

Roeddwn wedi cynnig y byddem yn sefydlu Byrddau Diogelu Oedolion ar sail statudol, ochr yn ochr â’r Byrddau Diogelu Plant. Rwy’n falch fod cryn gefnogaeth i hyn. Serch hynny, mae’r syniad y dylai’r Byrddau fod â chylch gwaith ehangach na diogelu yn unig yn apelio ataf. Rwy’n bwriadu cynnig y dylai Byrddau Diogelu Oedolion sy’n canolbwyntio’n benodol ar oedolion mewn perygl, gael eu sefydlu o dan y ddeddfwriaeth.  

Er nad oedd hynny’n rhan ffurfiol o’r ymgynghoriad, mae’r cynnig y dylai’r Byrddau hyn uno mewn pryd yn un sydd wedi ennyn cryn ymateb. Rwy’n dal i fod wedi ymrwymo i’r egwyddor fod rhaid inni ddechrau chwalu unrhyw rwystrau artiffisial sy’n seiliedig ar oedran. Ond rwyf hefyd yn cydnabod ac yn gwerthfawrogi’r pryderon a leisiwyd. Bydd y Byrddau newydd yn gweithredu ochr yn ochr â’i gilydd i ddechrau, ond bydd y ddeddfwriaeth arfaethedig yn caniatáu i benderfyniadau ynghylch uno gael eu gwneud yn lleol o fewn y fframwaith o wella trefniadau diogelu ar gyfer pawb. Rwyf hefyd wedi gofyn am gynnwys darpariaeth yn y Bil drafft i Weinidogion gadw’r hawl i uno Byrddau.

Rwy’n falch fy mod wedi gallu darparu hanner miliwn o bunnau o gyllid ychwanegol yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon i helpu awdurdodau lleol a phartneriaid allweddol i bontio i’r modelau gwasanaeth a llywodraethu newydd. Disgwyliaf i’r awdurdodau lleol weithio gyda’u partneriaid i ddatblygu’r patrwm diogelu newydd o 6\. Mae cyflawni hyn yn flaenoriaeth.

Rwy’n gwerthfawrogi cymhlethdod ein cynnig i ddatblygu fframwaith cyfreithiol i ddiogelu oedolion mewn perygl, ond mae’r gefnogaeth lethol i hynny wedi codi fy nghalon yn fawr. Rwy’n awyddus i fwrw ymlaen â darpariaethau i gynnwys yr holl nodweddion amrywiol a ddisgrifiwyd yn yr ymgynghoriad, gan osod dyletswyddau cyfreithiol allweddol ar awdurdodau lleol ac eraill, fel yn y gwasanaeth iechyd a’r heddlu, i ddiogelu oedolion mewn perygl. O ystyried nerth yr ymateb a fynegwyd, mae’r syniad o roi pwerau ymyrryd newydd i ymarferwyr yn apelio ataf, a hynny er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn gallu cysylltu â’r rheini yr amheuir eu bod yn cael eu cam\-drin, gan gadw at yr egwyddor mai dymuniadau’r oedolion fydd sail unrhyw gefnogaeth a roddir. Fel yn achos plant, bydd y fframwaith hwn yn sicrhau bod achosion o gam\-drin oedolion yn derbyn ymateb amlasiantaethol cyson ac effeithiol. Bydd y ddeddfwriaeth ar gam\-drin domestig sydd ar fin cael ei chyflwyno gan y Gweinidog Llywodraeth Leol a Chymunedau yn ategu hyn.     
    
Mae datblygu’r trefniadau hyn yn arwydd bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi aeddfedu gryn dipyn mewn cyfnod cymharol fyr. Ond mae’r setliad datganoli – a swyddogaeth allweddol yr heddlu a’r asiantaethau eraill sydd heb eu datganoli yn arbennig – yn golygu bod rhai meysydd yn dibynnu ar gytundeb Llywodraeth y DU. Mae fy swyddogion eisoes wedi cychwyn trafod y meysydd y bydd angen cytundeb ehangach yn eu cylch, a byddwn yn parhau i ddwyn pwysau er mwyn sicrhau’r hyn sydd orau i Gymru, yn ein barn ni.  

Mae ein ffordd o feddwl wedi datblygu mewn sawl maes, ac rydym wedi symud ymlaen. Rwy’n sylweddoli fod cryn waith o’n blaenau o hyd. Rwy’n llawn werthfawrogi maint y dasg. Mae cyfraniad rhanddeiliaid wedi bod yn hanfodol hyd yn hyn. Gyda’u cymorth hwy, sefydlwyd y Rhwydwaith Cynghori ar Ddiogelu ac Amddiffyn yn gynharach eleni, a bydd y Rhwydwaith hwnnw’n dod yn fwy arwyddocaol wrth inni ddechrau gweithio ar fanylion y darpariaethau a gynhwysir yn y rheoliadau a’r canllawiau, ac a fydd yn sail i’r Bil. Rwy’n gwybod y gallaf ddibynnu ar eu brwdfrydedd, eu hymrwymiad a’u harbenigedd i fynd â ni yn ein blaenau.  

Rwyf hefyd wedi ymrwymo i ddatblygu grŵp craidd o arbenigwyr i’m helpu i ddatblygu manylion ein cynigion. Felly, rwy’n bwriadu sefydlu Bwrdd Diogelu Cysgodol cyn diwedd y flwyddyn ariannol hon. Byddaf yn sicrhau bod yr Aelodau yn cael gwybod am hynt y gwaith hwn.