End of Week Message from Lance

03 July 2026

Hi Everyone,

One of the things I enjoy most about working in Social Services is seeing the many different ways people make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Sometimes that happens through the care and compassion colleagues show every day. Sometimes it's through innovative ways of supporting people to live independently. And sometimes it's by embracing new ideas and new ways of working that help us deliver even better services for our residents.

This week, I wanted to share a few examples that really bring those themes to life.

Many of you may have seen our Shared Lives scheme featured on ITV recently as part of a series looking at adult social care in Wales. The report, which aired on ITV Wales News and Sharp End, shone a light on a service that has been transforming lives across the Vale for more than 20 years.

Shared Lives offers vulnerable adults the opportunity to receive care and support within a family home, helping people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, autism, mental health needs and dementia to live fulfilling lives within their own communities while promoting independence and developing new skills.

A huge thank you goes to Shared Lives carer Bernie Coppinger for opening her home to the ITV cameras and sharing her experiences of supporting Rosie Shale through respite care.

I'd also like to thank our Shared Lives Team Manager, Paul Marchant, who spoke about the scheme and the vital role our carers play in helping people remain connected to their communities and live life on their own terms.

As part of Shared Lives week, colleagues, carers and the individuals supported by the scheme also  came together at Bryngarw Country Park for our annual summer picnic.

Thankfully the great weather gave everyone a chance to catch up, enjoy some games and spend time together in a relaxed setting. It was also lovely to welcome some of our newer carers and celebrate a birthday with one of our long-standing Shared Lives families.

Events like these remind us that Shared Lives is about far more than providing support. It's about building lasting relationships, creating opportunities and fostering a real sense of belonging.

That same sense of connection was evident during our recent Carers Week celebrations at Ty Dewi Sant.

Residents, relatives and colleagues came together to recognise the incredible contribution made by family carers alongside our own care home teams. It was a chance to celebrate the compassion, commitment and partnership that underpin high-quality care every single day.

Following the event, we received some wonderful feedback from the daughter of one of our residents, who said the following: "It was so lovely to see the residents, relatives and staff all coming together, socialising, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and a real credit to everyone involved.

"This has been a very difficult and emotional time for our family, but knowing that my mum is being cared for with such kindness, compassion, and genuine love brings me enormous comfort and truly warms my heart.

"There are far too many people to mention individually, but please know that I am incredibly grateful to each and every member of the team. Your dedication, patience, and care do not go unnoticed, and they make such a difference to both the residents and their families.

“Seeing Mum settled, happy, and enjoying herself means more than words can express.”

Feedback like this is incredibly meaningful because it reflects the difference our colleagues make every day. The relationships our residential teams build with residents and their families sit at the heart of person-centred care, and I would like to thank everyone involved for the professionalism, empathy and dedication they continue to show.

Supporting people to have greater choice and control over their own care is another important part of the work we do, so I'd also like to take the opportunity to remind colleagues about our new Direct Payments Hub.

Developed following feedback from people who use the service, the Hub brings together guidance, frequently asked questions and practical information for both practitioners and members of the public in one easy-to-access place.

Our approach has been developed through co-production with people receiving Direct Payments and reflects current legislation, good practice and strengthened safeguarding arrangements.

Most importantly, it encourages Direct Payments to be considered as a standard option when planning care and support, helping people exercise greater choice over how their needs are met.

If you'd like to learn more about Direct Payments, please visit the Direct Payments Hub or get in touch with Louis Burrows, our Direct Payments Team Lead - lburrows@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Just as we encourage the people we support to grow in confidence and independence, it's equally important that we continue to learn, develop and adapt as professionals.

That was reflected in our recent Resource Management and Safeguarding Development Day.

The event brought together RMS colleagues for a series of engaging sessions covering topics that will help shape the future of our services.
These included an update from Tom Bowring on Vale 2030, a session with Tu Vida as we continue working towards Carer Friendly accreditation, and a practical workshop delivered in partnership with Cardiff University and the Centre for Digital Public Services on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the modern workplace, and this workshop gave colleagues the opportunity to explore how tools such as Microsoft Copilot can support everyday tasks while maintaining high standards around data protection, ethics and responsible use.

It's encouraging to see colleagues embracing new technology with curiosity while keeping people at the centre of everything we do.

Used thoughtfully, these tools have the potential to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burden and ultimately give us more time to focus on what matters most – supporting our residents and communities.

I also need to express my sincere thanks to corporate colleagues who have helped develop our new centre for Children’s services at Ty Jenner.  Colleagues from Digital, Comms, Facilities and Property have helped us create a really welcoming space for our staff and the children we serve. Children’s services colleagues will no doubt be unpacking as this message arrives but I would also like to wish them every success in the new premises.

On behalf of myself and the rest of SLT, thank you for your efforts this week - your professionalism, compassion and commitment continue to make a real difference to the people we serve.

For those who are off over the weekend, I hope you have the opportunity to recharge and enjoy some well-earned rest.

Thanks,

Lance