Robs Weekly Round Up

03 November 2023

Dear colleagues,

I wanted to start this week’s message with news of double success in our Learning and Skills Directorate.

The Council’s Big Fresh Catering Company was named Catering Management Team of the Year and also picked up a Welsh Government Food in Schools prize at the Local Authority Catering Association Wales Awards.

This comes after 12 months in which Big Fresh has continued to go from strength to strength.

As well as providing nutritious school meals, the company also operates a commercial catering service, a bar and café at Penarth Pier Pavilion and now a coffee shop at Belle Vue Pavilion.

An innovative business model allows it to operate independently from the Council, with all surpluses returned to schools or used to sustain the business itself.

The second award recognises the hard work that has gone on to provide free school meals to all primary pupils, the Vale being one of only a handful of Welsh Local Authorities to offer this provision to children in years one to six.

Well done to everyone involved. Big Fesh has been a huge success story for the Council thanks to the hard work put in by the entire team. Congratulations.  Llongyfarchiadau.

The Learning and Skills Management Team were at Belle Vue Pavilion earlier this week as they prepare for the department’s upcoming visit from Estyn, the Welsh education and training inspector.

This is one of several workshops being held over the coming weeks and offered an opportunity for colleagues to reflect on the contributions they have made to the Directorate’s success.

I’m sure there was much to discuss given that department’s many achievements.

On the subject of accomplishments, I wanted to share some praise a member of our Social Services Team received.

Donwyn Lynch was singled out for acclaim by the daughter of a service user whose case he recently worked on.

The message passed on “compliments and immense thanks” to Donwyn for his “tireless work” in securing care for this individual, ensuring they did not need to stay in hospital for longer than necessary.

I’d like to echo those sentiments and also express my appreciation for such commitment. Da Iawn, Donwyn. Your efforts have made a real difference to that person and their family, which is ultimately what working for a Local Authority is all about. Our aim is always to improve the lives of our residents.

Of course, helping colleagues is also important which is why the Council is backing the Active Soles initiative.

That is a drive to offer staff the opportunity to wear trainers at work, rather than other more traditional types of shoes.

Comfortable footwear helps to boost physical activity, encouraging more movement and brings with it a range of health benefits.

People working in offices spend up to 75 per cent of their working hours sitting, which increases the risk of a variety of health conditions, including obesity, type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

Evidence shows that even those that exercise regularly are susceptible to the health problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle if they spend the majority of the day sitting down.

The Active Soles campaign aims to get staff into trainers, out of their chairs and moving more, something I and the rest of SLT very much support.

Next, I wanted to share some very sad news as former colleague Bron Blake-Smith passed away this week.

She died at home following a battle with illness and will be greatly missed by those that knew and worked with her.

Bron first joined the Council as an agency member of staff in 2002 before taking up a full-time position within the Child Protection and Reviewing Unit of Social Services in 2004.

From 2010 to 2014, she worked with the Housing Team as a Strategy Assistant, moving on to a role as a Customer Services Officer within Business Support.

In that post, she worked on various high-profile projects, including the roll-out of separated recycling in 2019, The Big Fill campaign and Stamp It Out, an enforcement drive around waste.

Bron retired due to ill-health in March and will be remembered for the kind and cheerful way in which she always treated others.

I’m sure you will join me in passing on deepest sympathies to Bron’s family at this difficult time.

I will share details of funeral arrangements as soon as I have them.

This seems an appropriate point to mention a new staff advice line, which is available 24 hours a day for support on a wide variety of issues.

Provided by Westfield Health, the service offers confidential guidance on medical, legal and domestic problems from qualified counsellors, legal experts and nurses.

It can help with stress, bereavement, relationship difficulties and money worries and is accessible at any time of the day or night by calling 0800 092 0987, entering the scheme number of 72115 and naming the Council as employer.

Calls can be made anonymously, and their contents are treated in strictest confidence, with details only revealed if someone is at risk of serious harm.

Sadly, I have had to write to staff about the passing of several colleagues recently and when doing so always encourage those that need it to seek support.

I’ll repeat that message now, not just in relation to bereavement, but when dealing with a whole host of matters that can affect mental health. It is really important to look after your wellbeing and is something that we as an organisation are absolutely supportive of.

We value all our staff, which is why the Council is taking part in the Stonewall Staff Feedback Questionnaire.

That is designed to ensure that the Council is a safe, welcoming and accepting place to work for everyone by finding out what people think about LGBTQ+ inclusivity within the organisation.

As a Stonewall Diversity Champion, we want to make sure that everyone can be themselves at work, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

By completing the survey, which runs until December 15, you can help establish what the Council is doing well and areas that need more attention.

Again, information can be provided anonymously and responses are confidential.

Anyone who wants to help make the Council a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual and gender minority staff can be themselves and achieve their potential, can also join Council’s LGBTQ+ and Allies Network, GLAM.

In the build-up to Halloween, the Finance Department held their annual pumpkin carving competition.

Judged by Matt Bowmer, first place of a bag of Cadbury Heroes went to Andrew Badcock-Jones, with runner-up Sean James winning a box of Maltesers and The Housing Benefits Team claiming a box of Celebrations for coming third.

The Housing Benefits Team also had the best decorated office, while Helen Huggins went home with a consolation prize of a bag of liquorice Allsorts for at least trying!

Staff at Ty Dyfan and Ty Dewi Sant care homes were also getting into the spooky spirit as they dressed up to mark Halloween, along with residents.

From the pictures, it looks like a lot of fun was had by all.

With Bonfire Night nearly upon us, the next stop will be Christmas and on that subject Alison Maher is organising a festive-themed clothes swap event.

That follows the success of a similar scheme earlier in the year, held in the Council Chamber, when staff got together to exchange garments they no longer wanted.

The plan is to stage another clothes swap in early December, with volunteers required to help organise it.

Anyone interested in assisting is asked to get in touch.

Speaking of Christmas, I wanted to make you aware of working arrangements during this period.

Over Christmas and New Year, the plan is to follow the pattern of previous years and close Council offices for non-essential frontline services from 4.30 on Friday, December 22 until the morning of Tuesday, January 2.

Of course, since the pandemic, many of us are in the office less now anyway as we have switched to a more flexible, hybrid way of working.

Naturally, Council services will still need to operate and it is up to mangers to ensure sufficient staffing cover is put in place for the festive season.

Colleagues who want to take an extended beak over Christmas have the opportunity to take leave, subject to the needs of the service, while anyone who works remotely can continue to do so should they wish.

Arrangements can be made for those who ordinarily attend work to work from home or an alternative location if they do not want to take leave.

As always, thanks very much for your efforts this week, they are very much appreciated.

Enjoy the fireworks, but above all have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

Rob