Call for Evidence - Review of the Role & Function of the Children's Commissioner for Wales

Children in Wales

Call for Evidence - Review of the role and functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales

As you may know, Mike Shooter has been asked by the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty to undertake a review to the role and functions of the Children's Commissioner for Wales. Wales was the first UK country to have such a commissioner, with the office being established in 2001; mine is the first review of the office since its establishment. The current Children's Commissioner for Wales, Keith Towler, has previously called for and has welcomed this review.

The review will focus on six key areas:

1. the role and functions of a Children's Commissioner for Wales;
2. the impact that the role has had;
3. the suitability and effectiveness of the underpinning legislation;
4. accountability and governance;
5. value for money; and
6. accessibility.

In December I will provide the Welsh Government with a report and recommendations across these six areas. To achieve this I will meet a range of people across Wales and beyond to listen to and seek to understand their views and perspectives on the Children's Commissioner. I would like to hear from as  many people as possible. With this in mind, I am  issuing my 'Call for Evidence'.  This is intended to provide an opportunity to gather a range of in-depth information. Alongside the Call for Evidence, and as an alternative or supplementary option, we have also developed an online survey. The survey will consist mainly of yes/no questions with an option to expand on answers. Please feel free to use either - or both - engagement tools, as you see fit.

Children and young people are, of course, vital to the review. Two separate versions of the survey have also been specifically designed for different age groups (although it is of course open to children and young people  to complete any of the other surveys). It would be great if you could encourage children and young people to feedback to us. If you work with children and young people you may wish to conduct your own workshop and to let us know how that goes. All documents are downloadable. I have also recently awarded a contract to deliver a large number of workshops for children and young people across Wales. Further details will appear shortly.

I would be grateful if you could circulate the Call for Evidence to your stakeholders. Please help ensure that voices are heard so I can make recommendations that build on and strengthen the role of the Children's Commissioner for Wales.

You can complete the Call for Evidence here.

Children in Wales

Plant yng Nghymru

Galwad am Dystiolaeth - Adolygiad o rôl a swyddogaethau Comisiynydd Plant Cymru
Fel y gwyddoch, yr wyf wedi gofyn i'r Gweinidog dros Gymunedau a Mynd i'r Afael â Thlodi i gynnal adolygiad i rôl a swyddogaethau Comisiynydd Plant Cymru. Cymru oedd y wlad gyntaf yn y DU i greu swydd comisiynydd o'r fath, gyda swyddfa yn cael ei sefydlu yn 2001; mwynglawdd yn yr adolygiad cyntaf o'r swyddfa ers ei sefydlu. Comisiynydd Plant ar hyn o bryd ar gyfer Cymru, Keith Towler, wedi galw yn flaenorol ar gyfer ac wedi croesawu'r adolygiad hwn.

Bydd fy adolygiad yn canolbwyntio ar chwe maes allweddol:
1   rôl a swyddogaethau Comisiynydd Plant Cymru.;
2   yr effaith y mae'r rôl wedi cael;
3   addasrwydd ac effeithiolrwydd y ddeddfwriaeth sylfaenol.;
4   atebolrwydd a llywodraethu;
5   gwerth am arian; a
6.  hygyrchedd.

Ym mis Rhagfyr byddaf yn rhoi gwybodaeth i Lywodraeth Cymru gyda'r adroddiad ac argymhellion ar draws y chwe maes. Er mwyn cyflawni hyn, byddaf yn cwrdd ag ystod o bobl ledled Cymru a thu hwnt i wrando a cheisio deall eu barn a'u safbwyntiau ar y Comisiynydd Plant. Hoffwn glywed gan gymaint o bobl ag y bo modd. Gyda hyn mewn golwg, yr wyf yn cyhoeddi fy 'Galwad am Dystiolaeth'. Bwriedir i hyn roi cyfle i gasglu ystod o wybodaeth fanwl. Ochr yn ochr â'r Alwad am Dystiolaeth, ac fel dewis amgen neu opsiwn atodol, rydym hefyd wedi datblygu arolwg ar-lein. Bydd yr arolwg yn cynnwys yn bennaf ie / na gwestiynau gydag opsiwn i ehangu ar yr atebion. Os gwelwch yn dda yn teimlo'n rhydd i ddefnyddio'r naill - neu'r ddau - dulliau ymgysylltu, fel y gwelwch yn dda.

Mae plant a phobl ifanc, wrth gwrs, yn hanfodol i'r adolygiad. Dwy fersiwn ar wahân o'r arolwg hefyd wedi cael eu cynllunio'n benodol ar gyfer grwpiau oedran gwahanol (er ei bod, wrth gwrs, yn agored i blant a phobl ifanc i gwblhau unrhyw un o'r arolygon eraill). Byddai'n wych pe baech yn annog plant a phobl ifanc i roi adborth i ni. Os ydych yn gweithio gyda phlant a phobl ifanc efallai y byddwch am gynnal eich gweithdy eich hun ac i roi gwybod i ni sut mae hynny'n mynd. Mae'r holl ddogfennau yn llwytho i lawr. Rwyf hefyd wedi dyfarnu contract i ddarparu nifer fawr o weithdai ar gyfer plant a phobl ifanc ar draws Cymru yn ddiweddar. Bydd manylion pellach yn ymddangos cyn bo hir.

Byddwn yn ddiolchgar pe gallech ddosbarthu'r Galwad am Dystiolaeth i'ch rhanddeiliaid. Os gwelwch yn dda helpu i sicrhau bod lleisiau yn cael eu clywed fel y gallaf wneud argymhellion sy'n adeiladu ar a chryfhau rôl Comisiynydd Plant Cymru.

Gallwch lenwi'r Cais am Dystiolaeth yma:http://ccuhpgwneudpethauniawn.co.uk/adolygiadcpc/

Plant yng Nghymru