2022 Accolades winners announced

A Pembrokeshire network of dementia support groups, a Blaenau Gwent hub for young people aged 14 to 18 who need care and support, and a home care manager from the Vale of Glamorgan who has improved the lives of older and vulnerable people are among the winners of this year’s Accolades awards.

The Accolades recognise, celebrate and share excellent social care, early years and childcare work in Wales.

Seven winners were presented with their awards at this year’s ceremony held in Cardiff on Thursday, 21 April. The awards were hosted by well-known broadcaster Garry Owen and our Chief Executive Sue Evans.

We received more than 70 entries and nominations from across Wales for the 2022 awards. Our panel of expert judges whittled them down to a final shortlist of 14 projects and 10 care workers.

The judges included members of our Board, representatives from organisations across social care, early years and childcare, and people with experience of using care and support.

Mick Giannasi CBE, our Chair said: “The Accolades are our way of saying thank you to everyone working in social care and early years and childcare who has delivered great care to make things better for the people they support.

“The past two years have been incredibly difficult, but we should be proud of all our social care and early years and childcare workers who have offered their support, kept people safe and helped those they care for to live the lives that matter to them.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, you should be very proud of your achievements. Thank you all for everything you do.”

Sue Evans, our Chief Executive, added: “Once again this year the standard of entries we received has been incredibly high. The judges had a difficult task in deciding the winners as there was very little to separate some of the finalists.

“It was a privilege to host the Accolades awards ceremony and to be among so many who truly make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales. The experience has shown just how many great examples of excellent care and support we have, and the valuable and positive difference social care and early years and childcare workers are making to so many people’s lives.

“Congratulations to all our deserving winners. We’re very fortunate to have so many committed and hard-working people supporting our communities.”

The winners

The seven winners are:

Building bright futures for children and families, won by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council’s social services department for its ‘BG Hub’ project

The project supports children aged between 14 to 18 years old who need care and support, including children in need of protection and children who are looked after. The project has created a vast indoor and outdoor space for children, promoting group work and independent living skills and development.

Looking after and improving workforce well-being, won by Conwy County Borough Council’s social services department for its ‘Attitude for Gratitude’ project

The project was set up by Aloma Jones, the manager of the department’s over-25 disability team. Concerned about staff well-being, Aloma planned weekly sessions where staff learned to practise gratitude and share their feelings with others. This helped promote mental well-being and had a significant positive effect on the team.

Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, won by Pembrokeshire County Council’s social care and housing department for its ‘Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme’

The programme encourages people with a disability to aspire to work. It provides supported employment in a range of situations, from cafés to business administration and grounds maintenance to social media. In all cases, people are fully supported in their job role.

Supporting people who live with dementia, won by Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services for its ‘Dementia Supportive Communities’ project

The project aims to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. The project has created a network of dementia support groups to help people living with dementia achieve the best quality of life possible, feel part of their community and feel confident, understood and respected, and to continue to enjoy their hobbies and interests.

Effective staff recruitment and retention, won by Seren Support Services

Seren Support Services provides a range of supported living and home care services to adults living in the Neath Port Talbot and Powys areas. Acting on feedback it received from staff, the service has become an accredited real living wage employer and rewards staff who show commitment to the company and their career development. It also carries out a staff survey twice a year and has set up a forum, where staff can have their say about company decisions.

Caring in Welsh award, won by Alaw Pierce, Service Manager at Denbighshire County Council

Alaw, who was nominated for the award for her work championing people’s rights to use Welsh, has been described as a “role model” for staff. Throughout her career, Alaw has supported the use of Welsh in the workplace and has encouraged a culture where staff can comfortably use Welsh at work.

Alaw has successfully recruited Welsh speaking staff into key roles and has promoted the rights of older people to receive ‘best interest’ assessments in Welsh.

Denbighshire County Council’s Disability Champion, Councillor Arwel Roberts describes Alaw as having “worked tirelessly for the Welsh language within the social services department”.

WeCare Wales award, won by Keri Llewellyn, Manager of All Care (South Wales) Ltd

Keri manages a private home care agency in the Vale of Glamorgan. She was nominated for her commitment to improving the lives of older people and vulnerable citizens in the community.

As well as being a home care manager, Keri set up Care Communities Acting Together (CCAT) to help bring people together so they can socialise and meet new people. She has organised Christmas dinners, pantomimes, afternoon teas and ‘race days’, without being given additional funding.

As well as her work with CCAT, Keri also has a leadership role and represents the care sector on a wide range of committees, promoting the status of care workers, improving the quality of home care and making sure people are at the centre of all the decisions made about their care.

Learn more about all our finalists

What our sponsors say:

Blake Morgan

Sponsor of 'Supporting people who live with dementia'.

“We have sponsored the Accolades over many years as part of our corporate social responsibility programme, an integral part of our business philosophy, which aims to make a difference for our clients, our people and our communities.

“We’re proud to sponsor the 'Supporting people who live with dementia' award and play some part in helping raise the profile of the excellent work that’s being done.

“It's so important that we celebrate the fantastic efforts of those who support people with dementia, given the vital role they play in keeping our loved ones and our communities safe.”

City & Guilds/WJEC

Sponsor of 'Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion'.

“As the sole provider of the fundable Health and Social Care, and Childcare qualifications in Wales, City & Guilds/WJEC are proud to sponsor the annual 2022 Accolades awards.”

Data Cymru

Sponsor of ‘Effective staff recruitment and retention’.

“It’s an honour to be able to support the 2022 Accolades, to celebrate the hard work and achievements of those at the sharp end of social care, early years and childcare provision.

“Having provided data collection and analysis support to Social Care Wales over many years to help them better understand and support the workforce, we recognise the vital role that the workforce plays in delivering exceptional services. We are very pleased therefore to sponsor the award for effective staff recruitment and retention.“

UNISON

Sponsor of 'Looking after and improving workforce well-being'.

“We’re delighted to support the Accolades once again this year. As Wales’ biggest union, representing more than 100,000 people, we know how important it is that people feel looked after and have a sense of well-being at work.”

WeCare Wales campaign

Sponsor of the 'WeCare Wales award'.

“Care workers are often unsung heroes, so we’re thrilled to be able to support the Accolades awards and celebrate the hard-working people who dedicate their time to helping others.”