Last autumn Care Inspectorate Wales carried out a week-long inspection of Social Care in Wrexham and reported several key strengths, including strong leadership and a new culture of raised expectations and standards.
It also said employees were positive about working for the council; morale is good, staff feel valued and managers are supportive and accessible.
So how did Wrexham’s improvement journey begin? In 2020, a whole new Senior Management Team was established who, against the backdrop of the Covid pandemic, probably the most difficult period for British society in recent decades, re-designed service delivery to ensure that children were safeguarded and the promotion of their well-being was at the centre of everything they did.
You can find out more about career opportunities at Wrexham Council by visiting the council’s jobs portal.
Councillor Rob Walsh, Lead Member for Children’s Social Care, explains: “A few years back things were really tough in children’s social care and we knew we had to change.
“First of all, we knew we had to improve the way social care were funded, and securing political support for extra funding and resource was crucial.
“Then the pandemic kicked in, but in many ways it was a catalyst for improvement – it forced us to quickly re-evaluate how we do things, the way we use technology, our processes, and how we make sure children’s voices are at the heart of everything we do in Children’s Social Care.
“We made a lot of improvements that we continue to build upon long after the pandemic, and I believe we now have one of the most forward-thinking social services departments in Wales. The CIW inspection is probably the best we’ve ever had.”
As in every organisation, employees have been at the heart of progress at Wrexham Council, and making sure staff feel supported has been a cornerstone of success. Wrexham Social Care has implemented a Workforce Engagement Framework to embed a culture where the workforce inform service development.
Alwyn Jones, Chief Officer for Social Care, said: “The leadership team has embraced a coaching and learning approach which enables the workforce to develop and reach their full potential. Wrexham is fortunate to have a really talented and committed workforce who are dedicated to empowering children and families to achieve their best outcomes.
“CIW noted that employees feel valued, happy and have access to lots of support from management, and I think that’s the main reason we’ve made so much progress.
“People are our most precious asset and there is a really strong, resilient ‘can-do’ culture across our teams that gives our employees confidence and allows them to innovate and thrive.
“This summer we’ll be looking to recruit even more talent to a number of key roles. If you are committed to quality practice and improving outcomes for children, young people and their families and would like to join and be part of the continued journey of improvement, Wrexham’s Children’s Social Care is the place for you.”
You can find out more about career opportunities at Wrexham Council by visiting the council’s jobs portal.
