Issue - meetings

To present information about the Social Services’ contribution to promoting the Welsh Language.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

The report was submitted by the Senior Business Manager and the Assistant Head of Resources. Attention was drawn briefly to the following main points, noting that the Report scoped the work of the Children and Supporting Families Department, as well as the Adults, Health and Well-being Department.

It was explained that the Report scoped the work of both departments for the first time because the Public Services Corporate Director led on a 'More than words' project within the Care field.

The development of the Care Academy to try and cope with recruitment challenges that the Care field had recently faced was reported on. Details were given on the recruitment struggles impacting Local Authorities across the country, with specific challenges in some fields and geographical areas. It was emphasised that the aim of the Academy was to help individuals to develop themselves and highlight clear career pathways within the care field. It was explained that they hoped to meet these targets by offering support and training to ensure that individuals qualify to become carers through the medium of Welsh whether for the positions of Occupational Therapists, Home Manager or any other aspect of the field of care. Pride was expressed on the development of this plan because Welsh language training was not currently available on all aspects of the field, such as apprenticeships. It was explained that the academy currently existed virtually but it was hoped to have a specific location in the future.

It was acknowledged that both departments had faced recruitment challenges, noting that the problem intensified when attempting to appoint more specialist posts who had the necessary language skills. Attention was drawn to the fact that there was a specific challenge in the nursing home and residential care field as it was not possible to recruit quickly enough to meet the demand for the services. It was emphasised that departments ensured that they continued to offer training and support for all workers who needed help with the Welsh language and noted that filling vacant posts and resolving the recruitment challenges was a priority for them. Assurance was given that care providers received the Council's support to ensure that workers had specific time within working hours to nurture their Welsh language skills. However, it was acknowledged that this procedure depended on those providers acting as required.

It was elaborated that the Children and Supporting Families Department had had some success with recruitment campaigns recently, but it was acknowledged that challenges were still seen in the Meirionnydd area. It was noted that another challenge was to ensure Welsh language residential placements for children who wished this as all the residential placements were currently owned by the private sector. It was emphasised that the Council had plans to develop internal residential placements. It was acknowledged that the department had followed the Council's recruitment processes and considered applicants with lower language skills if the post was advertised for the third time. If someone with lower language skills was offered the job, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7