Worksways+ Recognised For Supporting Carers

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Workways+ team are the latest sector within the Authority to be recognised for their commitment to providing appropriate support and consideration to Carers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Workways+ team has been awarded the Investors in Carers bronze level award by the Hywel Dda University Health Board Carers Partnership. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The scheme, originally designed to help GP practices across the Hywel Dda area focus on and improve their carer awareness, is now being developed and rolled out to pharmacies, hospital wards, schools and Local Authority teams across Pembrokeshire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Some of the actions undertaken by Workways+ has included helping carers to access local support, liaising with external agencies to improve their support, and providing promotional material on how to access services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Workways+ is a major EU-funded project which works with long term unemployed and economically inactive people to help them overcome barriers to employment and volunteering. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mike James, Carers Champion, said: “This is a tremendous accolade for the Workways+ project and I’d like to congratulate them on their achievement on behalf of the caring community in Pembrokeshire. Not only are they providing additional support to local carers and raising awareness, but they are also a valuable source of signposting, which is so important.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ellie Brick, Performance and Quality Manager at Workways+, said taking part in the Investors in Carers scheme had proved very beneficial. “It has definitely helped us to support carers,” she said. “We have found out about the extra support that we didn’t realise was there.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Project Manager Karen Davies added: “This is a fantastic achievement for the team in Pembrokeshire and recognises their hard work in engaging with and improving the skills and employment opportunities for carers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dr Gareth Morgan, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Hywel Dda Health Board, said that on behalf of the University Health Board and as carers lead, he would like to extend their congratulations to the Workways+ team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m delighted to see the Investors in Carers initiative be adopted by the team and would like to acknowledge their hard work and commitment,” he said. “By helping to support our unpaid carers by working with our partners, we make a real positive impact on the quality of life for people within our communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jonathan Griffiths, Director of Social Services, added: “The Workways+ team have shown great commitment towards providing support and advice to carers, and we are delighted to congratulate them on achieving the Investors in Carers bronze level award.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Workways+ Project is part funded by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government. It is delivered through Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot (Lead Sponsor) Local Authorities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​