North Wales Safeguarding Board

  • About
  • Public
    • Information for Children and Young People
      • Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
      • Harmful sexual behaviour framework
      • Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)
    • Information for Adults
      • County Lines
      • Domestic Abuse
      • Extremism and Radicalisation
      • Financial Abuse
      • Modern Slavery
      • Self Neglect & Hoarding
  • Professionals
    • Events & Training
    • Board Members
      • NWSCB
      • NWSAB
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Board Documentation
    • Practice Reviews
    • Wales Safeguarding Procedures
    • Workforce Development
    • CSA Action Plan
  • Resources
    • 7 minute briefings
    • Document Library
    • PRUDiC
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Contact

June 21, 2017

Gwynedd ECPR 1

This Extended Child Practice Review was commissioned by the Chair of the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board in February 2015.  The review was undertaken following a finding of fact that two young children had been deliberately given methadone by either or both of their parents in the Gwynedd area.  This was confirmed in November 2015.

The Extended Child Practice Review Report was sent to Welsh Government and, under the regulations, the Welsh Government Safeguarding Team can draw in other parts of the Welsh Government and Inspectorates Group as appropriate in any further action is needed.  No further actions was needed.

The independent reviewers identified areas of good practice in appropriate and robust challenge.  Additionally, it was identified that the Housing Department were a particularly useful source of information whose presence at any such meeting was valuable and only added to the safeguarding picture

The review highlighted the need for quality referrals being sent to Social Services from professionals and ensuring that all relevant information (including historical information) should be taken into account as part of the initial assessment

There is a need for a chronology on cases which is a key tool to aid reflection and analysis both in real time and after the event which should have taken place in this case

The reviewers felt that the process and timing of Pre Birth Assessments by all agencies needs to be reviewed in order that there is some synergy and sharing of appropriate information at an early stage to inform case management decision making and planning.  Across North Wales there are inconsistent approaches between Social Care Departments as to when to accept pre-birth referrals from partner agencies.

In the reviewers’ opinion when a situation is deemed too risky for professionals to attend alone, this must give rise to significant concerns of the risks posed to the children in the household, and should trigger a review of the level of risk presented to the children.

The reviewers felt that this case in particular has highlighted the need for objective supervision and the importance of ‘fresh eyes’.  Additionally during this review there seemed to be a reluctance by from some professionals to make a safeguarding referral, and when it was made, there were internal processes (e.g. Professionals meeting) followed which could have undermined efforts to safeguard.

The review highlighted that there was a need for professionals to have timely access to safeguarding documents and a shared understanding of what terms actually mean.  The reviewers also felt that it was imperative that professionals keep an open mind and ‘think the unthinkable’ when assessing safeguarding risks to children with parents who misuse substances.

An action plan has been formulated and is being monitored by the North Wales Safeguarding Children’s Board to ensure that reflection and learning has taken place across all agencies that worked with this family

You will find the report in the CPR Section of the Website

This post is also available in: Welsh

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Events
Policies and Procedures
Practice Reviews
Board documentation
Board members
Blog
Safeguarding Week

Recent posts

  • New 7 Minute Briefings
  • Child sexual abuse investigations: A guide for parents and carers
  • Message from Sally Holland, Children’s Commissioner for Wales
  • 10 Top Tips for Making an Adult Safeguarding Report
  • Ending Physical Punishment in Wales

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates!
Sign up

NWSB Partners

Anglesey County Council
Gwynedd County Council
Conwy County Borough Council
Denbighshire County Council
Flintshire County Council
Wrexham County Council
North Wales Police
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
National Probation Service (Wales)
Community Rehabilitation Company

NISB Logo

Contact details

Regional Administration Officer to the Safeguarding Board
Email: regionalsafeguarding@denbighshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01824 712903

Privacy Policy

Log In

You are not logged in.
Login

Concerned about a child?

If you know a child who is at risk of abuse or is being abused, it’s very important that you let the council or the police know.

If the individual is in direct danger, call the Police immediately on 999. If not, telephone Social Services as soon as possible to share your concerns.

Anglesey
01248 725 888
01248 353 551 (out of hours)

Gwynedd
01758 704 455
01248 353 551 (out of hours)

Conwy
Social Services: 0300 456 1111
Out of Hours: 01492 515777

Denbighshire
01824 712200: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm
0345 053 3116: Evenings and weekends

Flintshire
01352 701 000
0345 053 3116 (out of hours)

Wrexham
01978 292 039
0345 053 3116 (out of hours)

Concerned About An Adult?

If you know of an adult who is at risk of abuse or is being abused, it is very important that you let the council or the police know

If the individual is in direct danger, call the Police immediately on 999. If not, telephone Social Services as soon as possible to share your concerns.

Anglesey
01248 750057
01248 353551 (Out of hours)

Gwynedd
Adults Department, Health and Wellbeing 01766 772577
01248 353551 (Out of hours)

Conwy
Adults:
0300 4561111 (Office hours)
0300 1233079 (Out of hours)

Denbighshire
0300 4561000
0345 053 3116 (Out of hours)

Flintshire
03000 858858
0845 053 3116 (Out of hours)

Wrexham
01978 292066
0345 053 3116 (Out of hours)

Copyright © 2021 · Site by DarkStar Digital · Log in

  • Cymraeg
  • English