Meet our Learning Disability Day Services Team

The two day centres in Barry, that the Day Services teams normally operate from, were temporarily closed in mid-March. However, the staff have found new ways of working to provide vital assistance to some of the Vale’s most vulnerable citizens with complex health and support needs. 

Wednesday 3 June, 2020

Wendy Atkinson (pictured) is one of our newest #RainbowHeroes, starting work within our Learning Disability Day Services team on 1 May, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Day Service Support Workers are visiting individuals within their own homes, supporting them in a variety of tasks, such as personal care and mealtime assistance. This support at home enables family members to receive some respite from their role as full-time carers.

They are also sending out activities and resources to individuals, to keep them busy during their time away from the day centre.

Some staff are busy preparing PPE packs for use in the community and are still tending to the on-site allotment, so it is ready for their return.

We must also recognise the important work of the Day Service Officers, who work from home ‘behind the scenes’, contacting all families or carers to perform wellbeing checks and offer assistance, as well as organising the day to day running of the service.

Several members of the team have been repurposed to VCRS, where they are working as Reablement Support Workers, supporting people in their own homes with daily living tasks.

Suzanne Clifton, the team's Head of Service, said:

"I am really proud of the way all day services staff have stepped up and adapted to the current situation, putting the needs of the service users first. They always go above and beyond to ensure our service users' needs are met, and these examples are no different. Well done to each and every one of you and thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to the service."

We think all of the members of this highly valued team are #RainbowHeroes, going above and beyond to perform crucial roles at this challenging time.