iPlayer Programme John Owen

[Threadbaretoe]

Flagging this documentary as it provides and good example about how ideology can lead to poor safeguarding judgement/practice.

In this instance, child abuse was overlooked and ignored by some due to conscious and unconscious fears about how it might be used against efforts to support Welsh medium schooling. Alongside this, some held the view that someone from the Welsh speaking community wouldn't abuse children.

It goes to show how people, when wedded to a cause, can become so wrapped up in promoting their cause that this can skew their judgement and lead to behaving in ways that they would never imagine under any other circumstance.

Here is the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p09brqsz/john-owen-cadw-cyfrinach

Thanks for this, will watch later

The creation of sacred castes that can't be subjected to scrutiny sometimes happens on the slightest and most unrelated of grounds (eg, speaking a language).

I watched this on Wednesday night as I was familiar with the case and through my previous career knew or knew of many of those involved. It was heartbreaking and I'm relieved to see that GP is getting massive amounts of support and appreciation for speaking out.

Having read the enquiry report, it shows just how much those children were failed all along the way. Opportunity after opportunity where had adults done as they should have, he could have been stopped sooner. It seems unbelievable now that he was allowed to continue to work with children and young people after his resignation in the early 90s.

GP was amazing. So honest, reflective and open.
I think the show was very well made.
Whilst safeguarding measures have improved, there are still people and organisations who have massive blind spots when it comes to their sacred cows

Place marking to watch this. It is so frustrating watching this play out year after year, decade after decade.The current levels of sacred castes are completely out of control.