Robs Weekly Round Up

16 February 2024

Dear Colleagues,

I’m back on end-of-week message duty today having taken leave last Friday when Tracy stood in.

She provided an excellent update on recent developments and achievements that has left me with a tough act to follow.

Fortunately, the production line of news and examples of outstanding staff performance doesn’t stop so I’ve also got plenty to let you know about this afternoon.

That said, I would like to start with a major announcement from the Senior Leadership Team. Paula Ham, our Director of Learning and Skills, will retire this summer.

It will be a big blow to lose Paula, who has played an important and key role in our Senior Leadership Team, and the Local Authority as a whole, since taking up her current role in 2016.

That period has seen a huge amount of change in education, largely because of our Sustainable Communities for Learning (previously 21^st Century schools) programme, which has seen school facilities transformed across the County. The investment in our schools has been significant and ambitious and has seen a huge enhancement in the learning environment of our young people.

Paula’s organisational skill has been central to the success of that work. She will leave knowing those efforts have made a real difference to Vale pupils, one that will surely benefit them in the future.

Paula joined the Council 15 years ago with a background in finance, having previously held positions in both Health and Local Government.

During that decade and a half, Paula has proved a real asset to the Council, she will be sorely missed and a tough act to follow.  Diolch Paula for all your dedication and commitment to education in the Vale.

Paula’s departure is not imminent - she will be with us until June – and I know that she and her colleagues across the Directorate and beyond will be extremely busy given that we are shortly to undergo two inspections. The first is of our Youth service, followed swiftly by an Estyn inspection of our Education Service.  I know that Paula and her team have thoroughly prepared, and I have no doubt that our excellent work in these areas will be acknowledged by the inspectors.

Paula joined myself and the rest of SLT on a visit to the new Waste Transfer Station in Barry on Tuesday.

This facility on the Atlantic Trading Estate helps the Council process recycling created through our source-separated system which is now operating throughout the Vale.

This is a larger more modern version of the facility in Cowbridge, where items can be sorted and crushed ready for further transportation and processing.

Having our own waste transfer station means we have more control over where waste goes and what happens to it.

Recycling performance in Wales is among the best in the world and the Vale is routinely near the top of the table when it comes to Welsh counties.

A big thank you to Colin Smith and Bethan Thomas for the tour, and to all the Waste Team for the work they have done to implement such significant changes over the last few years, improvements that have achieved excellent results.

Elsewhere, The Big Fresh Catering Company continues to deliver for our communities.

Not only are all its profits invested back into schools, a condition of partnering with the firm has also seen companies make a donation to the Barry Foodbank.

Most recently, the kitchen cleaning contractor they work with has pledged some money, with £430 going towards feeding the hungry.

Well done to Carole Tyley and all at Big Fresh. This businesses model has really benefited our residents and is an example of the kind of innovative approach to service delivery we must adopt going forwards.

Filming for a video to promote the Shared Lives Scheme has also taken place this week.

This initiative places vulnerable adults with approved hosts, who provide support and act as their carers.

CeriAnn Gratton, our Shared Lives Project Worker, is at the forefront of this important work. Thanks to her and all that have devoted time to this project – it makes a real difference to an extremely deserving group of people.

The Shared Lives service is currently looking for carers who are able to offer the kind of help mentioned above.

If you have a spare room and would consider providing session support, respite stays or a long-term placement please email the team.

Speaking of caring for the most vulnerable residents of our community, the Council’s Value in the Vale Team is working towards gaining Dementia Friendly Status to help boost understanding and make its work more inclusive.

Value in the Vale is a project funded by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Welsh Government that offers people the chance to earn rewards for giving up their time to help with community projects. It is delivered by Vale Homes, the Council’s housing tenant service.

By becoming Dementia Friendly, organisations recognise the importance of creating a supportive environment for individuals affected by dementia.

They also commit to raising awareness about this prevalent and challenging condition.

Dementia is a collective term for a range of progressive neurological disorders that affect memory, cognitive function, and the ability to perform everyday activities.

It is estimated that millions of people worldwide, and a significant number within our local community, are living with dementia. As the population ages, the number of people with dementia is expected to rise, making it crucial for projects like Value in the Vale to take proactive steps to become more Dementia Friendly.

Digital Inclusion and Engagement Officer Lianne Young has been the driving force behind the Value in the Vale’s teams efforts in this area.

This work compliments the Council’s Age Friendly Agenda, set by Jo Beynon and Sian Clement Davies, and dementia work carried out by Older Persons Day Centre Manager Miles Utting.

Working to become Dementia Friendly involves gaining an understanding of individuals living with the condition and implementing communication strategies to achieve positive interactions.

By embracing Dementia-Friendly initiatives, Value in the Vale aims to create an environment where individuals with dementia feel supported, understood, and included.

This approach also contributes towards the Vale Public Services Board Age Friendly Vale Charter which sets out how partners across the county will work together to ensure people in the Vale are ageing well.

The Charter and commitment to becoming an age friendly community was recognised by the World Health Organisation when age friendly status was awarded to the Vale at the end of last year.

For more information on how you and your team could work toward becoming Dementia Friendly please contact Lianne or Miles.

Finally, I wanted to draw your attention to the latest Welsh language course, which begins on Monday.

This is available free of charge to Council staff and Members and can be undertaken as part of the working day as long as your manager agrees.

For more information, please contact Work Welsh co-ordinator and Welsh tutor Sarian Thomas-Jones, or Equalities and Welsh Language Officer Elyn Hannah.

Thanks everyone for your efforts this week – they are always appreciated.

Have a good weekend. 

Diolch pawb a mwynhewch y penwythnos.