This week CMT got an update on our workforce strategy, launched a couple of years ago. The strategy is a fundamental part of our investment in our workforce, setting out and supporting the way we operate develop and train staff, allowing us to deliver effective services that touch the lives of residents every day. You can read more about the strategy here, but its key themes are about leadership and management, developing a workforce fit for the future, being an employer of choice and focusing on workforce wellbeing and inclusion. The update identified some significant progress, including the completion of a review of our values and behaviours, introducing a new workforce communication strategy, creating an e-learning portfolio in Oracle Fusion and maintaining the Helping Hands network. There is still more to do over the next few years and I’ll keep you informed as we go. I’d like to thank Rachael Davies, head of HR&OD, for her update and her team for delivering important progress that’s already making a difference for our staff.
Linked to the theme of developing a workforce fit for the future, I’d like to congratulate 23 staff members on their graduation from Gower College’s Management Development Programme this week. Each of them has achieved HND or foundation degree equivalent qualifications which will benefit their future careers, how we operate as a council as well as improved services for our residents. Read more about their success stories here. If you want to improve your skills and share in our ambitions as a learning council, have a look at what’s on offer here.
Also linked to our workforce strategy is our recently launched reward and recognition initiative which will recognise long service and staff who go the extra mile. We have already received a good number of nominations and if you know someone who deserves recognition for actions that demonstrate commitment to our values find out how to nominate them here. I want to thank our staff engagement group who helped develop this policy and there is always room for additional volunteers if you want to get involved
Yesterday I attended a West Glamorgan Regional Partnership forum at Swansea.com Stadium. It brought organisations and volunteers together to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. The event focussed on celebrating the vital work done by our social care teams alongside health colleagues and unpaid carers to support vulnerable people. It was great to meet some of the staff and partners across the region and listen to some of the inspiring examples which are improving the lives of our residents across the region. Thank you to all those involved.
Congratulations this week to our Partnership and Involvement team, Evolve Young People’s Service, Youth Justice and Community Safety teams as well as Clase Primary School and CMET for their parts in scooping five top accolades at this week’s Wales Safer Community Awards.
Competing against 158 other nominations, the Swansea City Chill events staged in the city centre won the overall Community Safety Award Wales prize. It also won the award for the best crime prevention project. The Collaboration Station picked up the award for best early intervention project and the Afternoon Teens project collected the top award in the equality, inclusion and cohesion category. A project at Clase Primary School was also highly commended in the equality, inclusion and cohesion category. Collecting this many awards in such an important area of work demonstrates how we’re leading the field in Wales in supporting our communities and helping keep them safe. Thank you to all those involved.
Also well done to trading standards officer Rhys Harries for winning the UK Anti-Counterfeiting Group Outstanding Leadership Award for his enforcement work, particularly in protecting our communities from illegal vapes and tobacco.
A big thank-you to our highways teams for their efforts during Storm Bert this week. Fortunately, we were not affected as much as other areas of South Wales, but their work helped keep floods at bay and our residents and motorists safe.
Finally, next Wednesday, December 4, the Welsh Blood Service is setting up a donation session at Civic Centre for staff and members of the public. If you can get along and donate blood, please do and there are still a few spaces left so it would be great to ensure these are taken up. There’s joining information here.
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