Robs Weekly Round Up 

13 September 2024

Dear colleagues,

I started this week by dropping into the Paget Rooms in Penarth to chat to local residents and our Placemaking team about priorities for the future of the town. The team were hosting a day long information and engagement session to hear from local people about what matters to them and what they feel should guide the future development of Penarth.

It was a good event and I’d like to say diolch yn fawr to the team for making it happen. The same work has been undertaken in Llantwit Major, Cowbridge, and Barry over the past two years and each town will soon have its own place plan informed and shaped by local stakeholders.

Speaking directly to those who use our services is always revealing. Many conversations reinforce much of what we as an organisation know we need to do to improve but there is always a new perspective on what matters and a fresh example of how our services, and decisions taken about them, impact on people’s lives.

What comes up most often is people’s experiences – both good and bad – of interacting with the Council. First impressions count and it is in these interactions that many people’s view of us as an organisation is formed. Last week I brought together a selection of senior managers to talk about Brilliant Basics with exactly this in mind.

The concept of Brilliant Basics is simple. Whatever else may be going on within the organisation and out in the wider world we are always in control of how we speak to people and deal with their requests. It is always within our gift to respond helpfully and courteously to citizens – in the way we would expect companies we deal with in our own lives to treat us. This approach will be one aspect of the new Target Operating Model established by Reshaping.

Those present last week had some great ideas about how we can put this into practice. Our Customer Relations team do great work as the first point of contact for many residents but they need all of us working in the same way to resolve issues as quicky as possible. The suggestions included each department reviewing all of the correspondence issued to citizens to ensure they give the right information and do so in simple language, as well as reviewing their content on our website to ensure it is correct and up to date. The work identified will now be a priority for the remainder of this year. It must be a collective effort so if you are able to identify a problem in your area and a way to improve people’s experience of your service then please let me know.

Every job in our organisation helps improve the lives of citizens of the Vale but few do so as directly as working in our residential homes. I was delighted to read the piece published on StaffNet+ this week which shares the story of Wendy who joined the team at Catref Porthceri on work experience over the summer. It was great to read about someone enjoying their role so much and at the same time how we as an organisation are giving people a taste of what a career in public service can offer.

Last week, day centre users from Rondel House and New Horizons visited Barry Island to catch a glimpse of the filming and feel the wind in their hair with a trishaw ride along the seafront. The rides were delivered by Cycling Without Age a global, not-for-profit organisation that aim to allow people of all ages and abilities to enjoy cycling, nature and friendly conversation by providing free rides in volunteer driven electric bikes called trishaws. Staff from the two Barry based day centres worked together with volunteers to ensure their service users were able to enjoy this ‘age friendly’ experience which is available to all with a focus on older adults and people with mobility issues. If you are looking to access this experience, please contact Sian Clemett-Davies. 

The start of this week was also marked by the launch of this year’s Cost of Living support grant scheme. The scheme is designed to assist groups and organisations whose work helps people struggling with rising prices. The grants issued last year enabled some great work to be done so please do point any organisations you may be aware of towards the information on our website. Groups have until 29 September to apply.

Tuesday was World Suicide Prevention Day, a chance for organisations and communities around the world come together to raise awareness and campaign for better suicide prevention. We supported this by lighting some of our buildings in green and sharing information encouraging people to talk more openly about suicidal thoughts.

It is a difficult topic to discuss in any circumstance but one that is vital we all get better at talking about. The campaign shared tips on how to talk about difficult feelings if you’re the one experiencing them, or if you’re worried about someone else.

You don’t have to be an expert, just being there to listen and showing you care can help someone work through what’s troubling them. You can read more about how to start a conversation on the charity's website. Remember, you’re not alone. If you’re struggling, you can contact Samaritans any time of the day or night by phoning 116 123 or emailing jo@Samaritans.org.

Most colleagues will by now hopefully have seen the new Hyb Cymraeg that launched last week. The new microsite for all things Welsh language has been developed in response to requests from colleagues and pulls together all the information about the Council's Welsh translation service, Welsh Language Standards, and opportunities to learn and use Welsh in the workplace.

We live in a bilingual Wales and the Welsh language is an important consideration in all of our work. The new Hyb Cymraeg helps us all understand what that means in practice for how we must do our jobs and what support is available to help with this. It is an excellent, resource and if you haven’t yet had a chance to look at it then please do take the time.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is today saying so long to a long serving employee and stalwart of our Democratic Services team, and Committee Services before that, Jeff Rees. I was very pleased to say a few words earlier today to bid farewell to Jeff at the end of his 41 years in local government. I am pretty confident he will be in the pub already but in case not, so long again Jeff. Thank you for your service and I hope you enjoy your retirement. 

For anyone reading that last paragraph enviously don’t forget that this week is National Pensions Week and our HR team have sharing various advice from My Money Matters on how to plan for a good retirement. All the information is on StaffNet+.

Finally, and looking ahead to next week, two of our elected members will be walking the length of the heritage coast in three stages on 16, 17 and 18 September to raise money for the RNLI and Coastwatch.

Cllrs Emma Goodjohn and Carys Stallard co-chair the Glamorgan Heritage Coast Advisory Committee and are undertaking the challenge to try and promote all that this great stretch of coastline has to offer. If you’d like to join them on their walk or support their campaign you can find out more via their justgiving page. Pob lwc both.

Thanks as always to everyone for you efforts this week. Diolch yn fawr pawb.

Rob.