For the first time since 2019, the Cwm Taf Workforce Development Service hosted their annual awards ceremony which took place on 5th March 2024, at Cynon Linc in Aberdare. There was a fantastic turnout with over 100 social care staff from across Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil attending, representing over 450 people who have achieved awards since the last ceremony to receive recognition for their hard work and dedication in completing new and additional qualifications.
The annual awards ceremony, which started in 2001, is a celebration of social care staff, including the independent and voluntary sector who have recently passed a variety of qualifications to support their employment. The celebration recognised several subjects including social work, performance management, business administration, work-based degrees, leadership and management, and ILM coaching and mentoring. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Neil Elliott, Director of Social Services at Rhondda Cynon Taf and was also attended by Lisa Curtis-Jones, Director of Social Services at Merthyr Tydfil Council, the Mayors and Social Services Cabinet Members from both Councils, and Lynn Herbert, Chief Executive of Dewis Centre for Independent Living, who represented the Cwm Taf Workforce Development Partnership.
The theme of this year’s ceremony was Celebrating Success through Adversity, which acknowledges the resilience of people who achieved their qualifications through the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
Neil Elliot, Director of Social Services in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: “It was an honour to open and close the 2024 Cwm Taf Workforce Development Service. It is crucial that we recognise and celebrate the hard work and dedication that social care staff from across the sector put into their professional development.
“These annual award ceremonies give us a chance to witness the development of social care staff. Several of them began studying their level 2 and have now achieved higher leadership and management qualifications. It is inspiring to see their career progression firsthand.
“By offering social care staff the opportunity to receive quality training and development. we enhance learning and contribute to delivering services of the same high-quality for our community.
“I would like to extend a special thanks to our guest speakers for their invaluable insights into their successful careers to date through their commitment to ongoing professional development, their support to their colleagues and the delivery of quality of services to the people their support.”
“I also want to say a thank you to the Cwm Taf Workforce Development Service and to the staff at Cynon Linc in Aberdare who helped make the ceremony such a success.”
The annual awards ceremony enables employees, as well as facilitators, educators, and the wider team to be recognised, highlighting the collaborative approach that promotes learning and development. The Cwm Taf Workforce Service and wider partnership are passionate about providing quality educational and training opportunities to employees, using Welsh qualification frameworks and assessment methods, ensuring we provide quality services to children, young people, and adults at all stages of their lives.
Cllr. Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “I was thrilled to attend this year’s annual Cwm Taf Workforce Development Awards Ceremony to celebrate the hard work and dedication of staff across social care who have undertaken additional qualifications.
“The amazing social care workforce have achieved so much through what has been a very difficult past four years since the last ceremony in 2019.
“I want to say a huge congratulations to all those people who received their certificates at this year’s awards. Your hard work is acknowledged and appreciated.”
To find out more about the fantastic work of the Cwm Taf Development Service, please visit: Cwm Taf Social Care Workforce Development Service
Cynon Linc is a vibrant community hub, available to all ages and abilities, set in the centre of Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf. They provide a range of services and facilities to the community, as well as spaces for hire. They support older people that live in the community, as well the public and third sectors.
To find out more, please visit their website: https://www.cynonlinc.org.uk/
Posted on 27/03/2024