Social Care News

CFW members from Swansea and Wrexham win plaudits

Two Care Forum Wales member organisations won plaudits for their commitment to workforce development, training and motivation in June.

Hengoed Court Care Home in Swansea was the employer of the year, Wales, winner in the VQ awards which celebrate vocational achievement. And Lifelong Learning 4 Living, which offers adult social care from its base near Wrexham, has been awarded gold under the Investors in People scheme.

Nichola Williams, who manages Hengoed Court, which opened in 1987, said Mr Davies of Hengoed Court has been named employer of the year. The VQ Day Awards organisers said: "Hengoed Court has very loyal staff thanks to the support and opportunities they are provided with. The home has worked with Gower College Swansea for the past seven years to provide and deliver a range of qualifications for staff - a real commitment to promoting and identifying development opportunities to upskill, motivate, empower and stimulate staff."

The home's approach to care and training has been recognised by other care providers and the local authority in Swansea, who have been to visit Hengoed Court to learn from its good practice. All catering staff, care staff and senior staff are well on their way to becoming 100 per cent QCF qualified.

• Find out more about the VQ Awards

Lifelong Learning 4 Living, at Llanerchrugog Hall at Rhosllanerchrugog near Wrexham, which won two Wales Care Awards in 2013, has now achieved gold status under the Investors In People scheme. 

Manager Peter Greenwood said: "We became involved with Investors In People three years ago [seeing it] as an opportunity to benchmark where our small family-run residential home for adults with learning disabilities stood within this nationally-accredited scheme. We achieved a bronze award in 2011."

Former teacher Mr Greenwood who runs the home with the help of son George (both pictured above), continued: "The outcome of our re-accreditation in April this year showed we have continued to improve and we were awarded the gold standard, one of only a very small number of organisations in Wales to achieve this in the adult care sector. The team who gave us the award highlighted our commitment to training and workforce development and particlarly noted the Wales Care Awards we received in 2013.

"We are a small organisation and we are really pleased to share the news of this positive achievement."

Read more: Triple awards for father and son team at Wrexham care home