News
Apprentices sought for rewarding career in social care
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL IS launching a bespoke apprenticeship programme to boost the numbers of people entering the caring profession and provide local young people with high value work opportunities.
The Council’s Social Services and Housing Directorate is to recruit up to eight apprentices through the programme in conjunction with Pembrokeshire College.
The apprenticeships will benefit both the authority and the wider community by increasing the numbers of carers into the care workforce – an ongoing challenge across the UK – while also supporting the local community and young people through job opportunities in a highly rewarding career.
This is especially important as Pembrokeshire recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The programme will see apprentices undertake two placements over a period of 18 months across Residential Homes, Day Centres, Reablement and the Council’s Community Wellbeing and Independence Team.
These services are registered under The Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016.
Sue Thomson, the Responsible Individual (RI) for the Local Authority who is responsible for the overall management, compliance and Governance of the services said: “We are delighted to be able to offer apprenticeships. This is a great start to a career in social care where they will gain recognised Health & Social Care qualifications in a variety of rewarding roles”.
Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Social Services, Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “It is great to see the Council taking proactive steps to bring young people into social care with this apprenticeship programme, setting them on the path to a rewarding career that makes such a difference to people in our community.
“An apprenticeship is a great way to get an introduction into a career and to learn and study on the job.”
Pembrokeshire County Council Director of Social Services, Jonathan Griffiths, added: “I really welcome the apprenticeship programme, this will be A positive experience for people entering the social care field and for apprentices to shape the future of social care.
“We want to work with apprentices to ensure this is a rewarding experience for you and for the organisation. It is an opportunity not to be missed and we look forward to your interest and enthusiasm to make a positive difference for people who need support in our community.”
Alongside the placements, the apprentices will be supported by a development programme including an induction, orientation in the role, being supported by a mentor, undertaking a Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care, achieving Social Care Wales registration and undertaking additional development activities including interview skills, communication skills and more.
The aim at the end of the programme will be for the apprentices to be work ready for a role within the Community Wellbeing and Independence Team (domiciliary care).
The plan is for the first cohort to be in place by February 2022.
Jason Bennett, the Council’s Head of Adult Care, Social Care and Housing, said: “I am very pleased to see the launch of the Social Care Apprenticeship programme. This presents an exciting opportunity for people to start their journey on a rewarding career in Social Care.
“Starting a career in social care in this way will open up a wide range of future development opportunities, job security, and offers people the chance to make a real difference to people’s lives.”
The recruitment and advertising campaign will be open until early February and will include engaging information events and a specialist recruitment website.
A group of new and young carers will be on hand to share their positive experiences of working in care with prospective apprentices.
Anyone who is interested in social care, considering a career in the social care field and is a school or college leaver aged over 16 is asked to make contact.
Choosing an apprenticeship is a great start to a career in health and social care and you will get paid while you study and learn and work towards a recognised qualification. For further information call 01437 776609.
Crime
Police arrest suspects following vehicle interferences in Haverfordwest
HAVERFORDWEST police responded swiftly after reports of multiple vehicle interferences in the Tasker Way area on Sunday night/early Monday morning (Nov 4).
Officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPPT) conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries, gathering evidence and reassuring the community. These efforts led to the identification of two suspects.
Both NPPT and Response teams acted promptly, locating and arresting the suspects, who are now in police custody.
News
Ancient Welsh hymns brought into 21st century with unique collaboration between Lleuwen Steffan and National Eisteddfod
Some of Wales’ long-forgotten hymn tunes are being brought vividly back to life this month, thanks to award-winning singer, songwriter and composer Lleuwen Steffan and her unique collaboration with the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
Performing as ‘Tafod Arian’ (Silver Tongue), the collaboration pays homage to the lost voices of the past, and infuses these timeless melodies with some highly contemporary electronic arrangements.
The project originated in 2012 when Lleuwen was working on a music project at St Fagan’s National History Museum where she came across some long-forgotten recordings of hymns which had been left in the sound archives. None of these hymns could be found in the official hymn books nor the older hymnal editions, possibly as the result of their informal, conversational lyrics, or because they often delved into the world of addiction, mental illness and the darker side of the psyche.
But now these unpublished and unknown hymns will be heard for the first time in over a hundred years when Tabernacl Chapel, Maenclochog, will be one of 50 Welsh chapels to be visited by Tafod Arian.
With translations and insights, the tour breathes new life into archive recordings, ensuring these cherished sacred songs rightfully claim their place in today’s spotlight. Lleuwen masterfully combines electronic and acoustic instrumentation, seamlessly blending the past with the present, and takes the stage alongside a dynamic quintet of international musicians including Sioned Webb and Gethin Elis from Wales, and Nolwenn Korbell and Brieg Guerveno from Brittany.
Despite the hymns’ long-distant past, the music is firmly in the present as Lleuwen uses various instruments to provide angular electronic accompaniment as well as her soulful vocals and guitar. She provides translations and explanations as she proudly puts the archive recordings of the lost |Welsh hymns on centre stage. As a result, these sacred songs are being passed on orally rather than via the hymn book which is precisely how Welsh folk music was conveyed.
The long-forgotten hymns will be heard once again in all their glory at Tabernacle Chapel, Maenclochog on Sunday, November 17 at 6.30pm.
Crime
Suspended sentence for Goodwick man who sent sexual messages to young girl
THE FATHER of a young girl sent sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a 12-year-old girl online, Swansea Crown Court heard this week.
An undercover police officer posed as a 12-year-old girl on the website RandoChat, with the decoy’s profile stating they were 18.
James Roberts messaged the decoy on 9 August, stating he was “looking for a naughty girl”.
The decoy promptly informed him that she was 12 years old; however, the defendant continued to send messages referencing sexual acts and self-gratification.
Roberts added the decoy on Snapchat, claiming to be 19 and living in England.
He again sent sexualised messages and, referring to the decoy’s age, said they were “never too young to start sending pictures”.
The defendant also told the decoy that he was having similar sexual conversations with a 14-year-old, Mr Dickens said.
Police attended Roberts’ home in Goodwick on 17 August, and he was arrested. He denied having a mobile phone, claiming he “had sent it off to Samsung to be fixed” but was “extremely vague” when asked for further details. Mr Dickens said no phone was ever recovered by police.
The 28-year-old Roberts pleaded guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child. The court heard that he had no previous convictions.
Hannah George, in mitigation, said the defendant showed “some degree of remorse” and that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
“In the 13 months since he was interviewed there have been no further offences,” she said.
Ms George said Roberts had suffered “significant” shame and embarrassment as a result of the offences, and it had led to him losing his job.
He had previously been diagnosed with PTSD and suffered “deep periods of depression”, Ms George said.
She added that his contact with his young daughter “has been diminished” following these offences.
“You were in contact online with who you firmly believed to be a 12-year-old girl,” said Judge Paul Thomas KC, addressing Roberts.
“You have a two-year-old daughter. Just think how you would feel if a man in his thirties tried to have that sort of conversation with her in 10 years’ time.”
Roberts was sentenced to 30 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 35 days of an accredited programme and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement programme days.
He must also register as a sex offender for 10 years and was made the subject of a three-year sexual harm prevention order.
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