A wnaiff y Gweinidog ystyried dileu'r posibilrwydd o ddiogelu ymweliadau i weld plant ar y gofrestr amddiffyn plant a gaiff eu cynnal o bell neu drwy gyswllt rhithwir?
Welsh Government is maintaining close contact with local authority children’s services, holding weekly meetings with heads of children’s services and Care Inspectorate Wales to monitor the impact of Covid-19.
Children’s social services are delivering services as usual and are working in innovative ways to support children and young people and to safeguard children at risk during this time. They continue to be in contact with all the children and young people they support.
We have published Operational Guidance for Children’s Social Services, which sets out the measures that should be put in place to minimise the impact of the pandemic, whilst maintaining statutory duties.
The guidance also sets out that statutory safeguarding visits to see children on the Child Protection Register should continue to be carried out at least every 10 working days. If following a risk assessment a decision is taken that this requirement can be met through remote/virtual contact for some children on the Child Protection Register, a manager must agree this decision and the rationale for it must be recorded. We have been clear that all cases should be subject to a review of risks on a frequent basis and at least once per week.
The intention of this advice is that face-to-face contact with children at risk should be maintained wherever possible, with remote contact as an exception subject to risk assessment. This position will be further reviewed as we move into recovery.
Care and support plans should continue to be completed and reviewed in line with legislation, with the full involvement of professionals and taking full account of the views of children and families, as is reasonably practicable. It is recognised there will be practical implications in the delivery and review of care and support plans within timescales and the effective input of health and education professionals in the current emergency. Whilst physical reviews meetings are not advised, review meetings should continue to be multi-agency, involving advocates, key agencies and professionals as required.