19 February 2021

Dear Colleagues,

I’m pleased to be able to write to you today and share some relatively positive news, following the First Minister's announcement earlier. We are beginning to see restrictions in Wales eased in a safe and controlled manner as cases of Covid-19 continue to decline. From tomorrow, up to four people from two households will be allowed to meet outdoors for exercise. It is however important to bear in mind that rules for travel and exercise haven’t changed, and social distancing measures remain in place. 

During the course of next week we will be welcoming pupils from nursery to year 2, back to our schools. And the next review in 3 weeks' time will  consider whether it is safe for older pupils to return to school as well. 

On the subject of schools I'd like to pay tribute to all of our schools staff for their hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic. Like all of the work we do, running our schools is done as a team and I am proud of the whole range of staff involved in school settings, from teachers to business support and learning support assistants, as well as the facilities teams who keep the buildings clean and safe. I received an email in response to my last message outlining the excellent work that Learning Support Assistants have undertaken throughout the pandemic to provide care and support for children in school settings. This has not gone unnoticed.  I am grateful to each and every one of you for your commitment to your role and to our pupils during what have been extremely challenging and testing times. Diolch yn fawr.

I was also pleased to receive an email last week from a staff member who had received their vaccine. In their email they said that they had been a little bit anxious about receiving a vaccine before-hand, due to a fear of needles, however their experience was a positive one and they took the time to write to thank the staff who work at Holm View vaccination centre. They also said, ‘The process was very efficient and all staff from check in to leaving were helpful and courteous.’ I was pleased to hear this, and I hope this information is reassuring to others. 

The mass vaccination programme continues at a pace, last week, our partners in Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board, reached a huge milestone in exceeding 100,000 vaccinations.  The figures are published daily on the UHB’s website. And since last week over 20,000 additional vaccines have been administered across the region. 

Praise for our staff is always welcomed and I have this week been informed that a colleague who works in Social Care, Morgan Holland, has once again been recognised for going above and beyond in her role. I met with Morgan a couple of years ago after she received a glowing report from the daughter of one of her clients. It’s fair to say the most recent email of praise for Morgan that I saw this week is also glowing. In her email, a relative who Morgan has been working with this year said,

‘I am totally impressed by your professionalism and your kindness. I had never used social services before and didn’t know what to expect. But the support that you have organised is absolutely and totally invaluable. I’ve been telling all my family and friends how brilliant you and social services have been at a time when we really need help. You are helping us hugely and I will be eternally grateful.’

This was wonderful to read and it really made me feel proud of the work that we do as an organisation. Morgan and others like her should be extremely proud of the valuable service that is being provided to our residents and communities. Such praise is well deserved and highlights the difference our colleagues right across Social Services and other teams make every day. Da iawn. 

Finally, I’d like to share an example of the work of St Nicholas Primary school pupils who've paid tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, who passed away recently with COVID and who raised over £33million for the NHS last year. 

I hope you all have a good weekend, stay safe.

Diolch yn fawr,

Rob