Robs Weekly Round-up

24 February 2023

Dear colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well at the end of another busy week.

A fortnight ago, I used my message to stress the importance of the Welcome to the Vale sessions for new starters. I’d like to begin this update by again welcoming new staff to the Council, something I am pleased can again be done in person now Covid restrictions have eased.

Welcome to the Vale sessions are held regularly and allow me to properly introduce myself, and the Council, in a more sociable setting.

These initial meetings are important. Not only do they help create personal connections between people, which are vital to the organisation operating effectively, they also break down the barriers that can sometimes exist between staff and senior management. I thoroughly enjoyed the most recent get together as it offered an opportunity to set out some of the Authority’s key values and stress how highly regarded each and every employee is.

Speaking of values, many of us joined people around the UK earlier today in pausing for a minute’s silence to mark the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine. I was pleased to accompany the Leader, the Mayor and other colleagues outside the Civic for the occasion.

The last 12 months have been a living nightmare for the people of that Country, while the rest of us have watched on in horror at television images of the fighting.

Many have lost their lives, seen relatives killed, been forced to leave their homes and suffered the untold trauma that comes from such an appalling conflict.

Like other organisations across the world, the Council pledged its support for Ukraine from the outset and we remain firmly opposed to what is an unjust and unnecessary invasion.

In my weekly messages, I regularly talk about the Council’s commitment to principles of tolerance, acceptance and inclusivity.

I and colleagues across the Council firmly believe in treating people equally, whoever they are, but that is easy to say – it is vitally important we also deliver on these ideals.

To that end, colleagues in a variety of departments have been working hard over the last year to help those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

A large number have been found temporary accommodation or placed with hosts, such has been the compassion and empathy demonstrated by Vale residents. A range of other support has also been provided, from information sessions to job opportunities, so people who have suffered so severely can start to rebuild their lives.

I’d like to thank team members from Housing, Social Services, Education and a host of other areas for their efforts in this regard – I’m sure they are appreciated more than you know.

It’s also important to reassure people that, as an organisation, we are strongly bound to this work.

The Council will continue to offer support to people in need, for as long as it’s required, wherever they come from, and we should all be very proud of that fact.

Pride is also what’s called for on Wednesday when we mark St David’s Day.

In celebration of all things Welsh, a special event will be taking place in the Civic Office’s Cosmeston Room, previously known as Committee Room 2.

From 9am to noon, there will be an opportunity to meet people, enjoy a Welsh cake and even practice speaking the language. I will be trying my best to drop in and hope to see colleagues there.

Work Welsh Coordinator, Sarian Thomas Jones, and Welsh Language Officer, Hannah Elyn, will also be in reception from 1:30 with information on Welsh courses and events.

Children from a local school will be performing some traditional musical numbers, the perfect way to honour the Land of Song!  Diolch i bawb sydd wedi bod yn trefnu y digwyddiadau.  Thanks to all who have been involved in the arrangements.

Our commitment to residents who are vulnerable and need support was further evidenced this week when colleagues in our Social Care Team pulled out all the stops to avert a crisis. A small privately-run residential care home closed before plans to ensure residents were appropriately placed could be implemented. Action was taken so that residents could be accommodated in the home in advance of them being moved to planned placements. Today, I am also pleased to say that all residents moved as planned during the week.

Suzanne Clifton has shared with me how well the team across the Adults and Resources Management and Safeguarding divisions have worked to expedite the arrangements to secure care and support for these residents. Suzanne said: “A particular shout out to Gaynor Jones and Natalie Eddins for picking up the role that the homes Directors would normally have undertaken. They ensured there was communication with the care home staff and that they were paid. Gaynor’s dedication meant that she made the time to visit the home to speak directly with staff. Hopefully these staff will stay in the care sector as a result of feeling valued by us as commissioners.” 

Suzanne went on to explain: “Natalie has only recently been appointed as Team Manager for this area and had to manage this situation within two weeks of starting the role. She has done so well to successfully navigate this scenario.  I am also grateful to our Legal and Finance colleagues for helping secure care and support arrangements for our most vulnerable.”

This is an excellent example of Team Vale in action and how important our services are to the most vulnerable in our communities. It illustrates that, when things get tough, our teams pull together even more tightly to make things happen. The citizen is always the focus and the workforce a key consideration, whether that be external or internal. Well done to everyone involved – Excellent work. Diolch.

Elsewhere, the upgrading of our management information system is set to be completed with the introduction of Oracle Fusion in April.

This new cloud-based platform can be used to view and amend an individual’s personal information, report expenses, access payslips and much more.

Its implementation has been delayed since November to ensure all its functions are available and working properly.

Oracle Fusion will support the way finance and HR processes are delivered, making them more flexible and providing a better user experience for residents, staff and suppliers.  

As the new system is cloud based, staff can log-on using both work and personal devices with a single set of credentials, meaning no need to remember multiple passwords. 

In the coming weeks, a series of Staffnet+ news items will be published highlighting some of the important features of Oracle Fusion as well as training on how to use it.

Information will be added to the Oracle Hub as we get closer to the launch date while more questions on the platform can be submitted by email.

I know a lot of hard work has been put in by James Rees and his team to get to this stage, for which I’m very grateful.

Finally, with so much going on, it is easy to overlook the need for each and every one of us to take care of ourselves and each other. 

It was great to hear, yet again, about all the positive work being organised by our Wellbeing Champions. 

I had an opportunity to catch up with some of my colleagues from the Elections Team earlier in the week, when Rachel and Hayley were at pains to tell me about how positive the tree-planting event at Cosmeston Country Park was last Friday. 

The entire Elections Team took part with other colleagues across the organisation. They planted 170 whips – good for our carbon reduction commitment and excellent for mental health and wellbeing. Well done all. Da iawn pawb.

Thank you as well for your efforts this week – they are always very much appreciated.

 

I hope you have an enjoyable and relaxing weekend.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob.