ACT Insight 7

insight

insight

ISSUE 7 | NOVEMBER 2018

including...

5

Working Wales Tender Update We share the latest update on the Working Wales Youth Engagement contract.

8

ACT score hat trick at Apprenticeship Awards Cymru 2018 This month we are celebrating the many successes of our fantastic staff and learners.

1

20

Staff in the spotlight This month we have put the spotlight on Charlotte Dando!

insight

contents Important things you need to know

4

Getting to know senior management

6

Events

8

Celebrating Success

12

Introducing our new partner... Llamau

16

Quality

17

Welsh corner

18

Book Club

19

Staff in the spotlight

20

People and Development Update

22

Welcome to our new recruits

23

2

insight

Wow, what an incredible few months it has been for ACT. There’s a big theme of celebration throughout this issue with the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru and our own internal Apprenticeship Awards and Staff Recognition Awards. A huge congratulations to all our staff and learners who were acknowledged for all the wonderful things they’re doing.

Keep up the brilliant work.

There’s lots more exciting news and stories throughout this month’s issue for you to enjoy too.

As always, please don’t forget to continue sharing all your fantastic stories with us.

welcome...

3

insight

"A new staff homeworking policy has been developed and is now available for staff. You can find the policy within the ‘Company Information’ section of Cascade Go"

4

insight

important things you need to know...

WORKING WALES

POLICY NEWS

As you know, we were informed at the end of October of the Welsh Government’s intention to award ACT the Working Wales Youth Engagement contract, subject to a standstill period of 10 days (which is standard practice on all Welsh Government contracts). Similarly, Cardiff and Vale College was notified at the same time of the Welsh Government’s intention to award them the Working Wales Youth Training contract.

New Homeworking Policy

As is often the case with these things, the Welsh Government’s timeframe has slipped and it hasn’t confirmed contracts yet. We hope to have some good news on this before Christmas.

Flexible Working Policy

A new staff homeworking policy has been developed and is now available for staff. You can find the policy within the ‘Company Information’ section of Cascade Go under ‘HR policies and procedures’ and the associated forms in the same place under ‘HR forms’. Please speak to your line manager and/or a member of the P&D department if you need further information

Through the Room 101 process, some staff have expressed concerns about working hours and traffic/congestion, asking whether we could look at a flexi-time policy. We have looked into this and it is not something that would work right across ACT due to the various different programmes we deliver and the variety of different job roles we have. We have a formal flexible working policy whereby any staff member can request changes to their working hours and by law ACT have to consider these. Please see above for details on where to find information on this.

5

insight

getting to know‌

senior management

6

insight

Who are you and what’s your role?

What are your plans for the future of ACT?

I’m Katy Wolar and I am the Senior Programme Manager for Traineeships and Lead Safeguarding Officer.

I want us to continue to build on a quality service for our learners and I would love to see our CSG plan become sector leading, which sees our learners and staff get the best support there is!

What are you responsible for?

I am responsible for the delivery, performance and day to day operations of the Traineeship provision across our delivery sites. I look after the programme end to end, so I look at learner recruitment, placements, progressions, programme content,

What’s the biggest challenge your team faces?

Our biggest challenge at the moment is going to be the migration to the Working Wales programme, it’s a very exciting challenge to have though!!

"I am responsible for the delivery, performance and day to day operations of the Traineeship provision" qualification delivery, quality of service and programme and centre outcomes.

I am also responsible for the implementation of our care, support and guidance (CSG) plan across ACT, which includes the management of the Additional Learning Needs service, the counselling service and pastoral services.

And… I am also the lead safeguarding and PREVENT officer for ACT.

7

What is your proudest moment at ACT? Gosh, there’s been a few!

I am really proud of how far the Traineeship provision has come, especially over the last three years.

Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you?

I used to be a nurse and did my training in South Africa, and my name is actually Katy Lewis.

I’m clinging on to my maiden name… don’t tell my husband!

insight

events APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS CYMRU The Apprenticeship Awards Cymru took place on Friday 9th November at the Celtic Manor, Newport. Known as the most prestigious awards in our sector, they celebrate exceptional learners and practitioners who go above and beyond to exceed expectations.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that ACT scored a hat trick on the night with all 3 of our staff and learner nominees winning the awards in their respective categories. The results on the night were as follows:

• K irsty Keane, Health and Social Care and Early Years Care Tutor – winner of the Work-based Learning Practitioner of the Year (tutor) Award • C arly Murray, Education and Development Assessor/IQA – winner of the Work-based Learning Practitioner of the Year (assessor) Award • Stella Vasiliou, Traineeship Construction Learner – winner of theTraineeship Learner of the Year Award A massive well done from ACT to all our winners. We are so proud of you all for your achievements.

You thoroughly deserve this national recognition.

8

ACT APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS 2018 Our annual Apprenticeship Awards were held on 1st November at Cardiff and Vale College, where we celebrated the brilliant achievements of our learners and employers.

A huge thanks to all our staff for taking the time to nominate and congratulations again to all our winners. The event was a huge success! Head here to see photos from the night.

Congratulations to all our winners!

insight

APPRENTICESHIPS

TRAINEESHIPS

Charlotte Phillips - Business Services

Callum Dunworth - Animal Care

Oliver Olivas - ICT/Digital Marketing/Social media/Marketing

Shania Amphlett - Business Services Summer Burrows - Care

Rebecca Jenkins - Management/Team Leading

Lianne Page - Hospitality & Catering Savannah Leigh-Coles - Engagement

Michelle Berry - Finance

Jack Wheeler - Schools Learner

Eleanor Downing - Education & Development Hayley Weston - Childcare/Playwork/CYP Melanie Walters - Health & Social Care

EMPLOYERS

Jason Clifton - Cleaning and Environmental services

SVC (Student Volunteering Cardiff) Molson Coors

Connor Thomas - Hospitality & Catering

Newport City Council

Glenn Hughes - Warehousing, PMO & BIT Chardonay Dupuis - Hairdressing, Barbering & Beauty

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD Hayley Weston

9

insight

SKILLS CYMRU

LLAMAU SLEEP OUT 2018

On 10th-11th October, ACT attended the annual Skills Cymru exhibition at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. Skills Cymru’s careers, jobs and skills events are the largest of their kind in Wales, attracting up to 10,000 people each year. It’s a big event in our calendar and we ensured we had a great presence with an interactive simulator titled ‘Have you got the drive?’ It drew a lot of interest from visitors who also had the opportunity to win an iPad from a prize draw. Well done to everyone who made the event the great success it was.

On 22nd November, volunteers from ACT took part in Llamau’s annual Sleep Out challenge, where they had to build their own shelter and sleep in it overnight. ACT successfully raised £2,243.28 funds to help Llamau end homelessness for young people and vulnerable women in Wales.

10

insight

WELL-BEING

Running Club

Staff from our Hadfield Road centre set up their own running club in March in a bid to keep fit and socialise. Trish Davies, Terri Dabbs, Ian Rees, Steve Lewis and Steve Williams run twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you’d like to get involved contact Trish Davies.

Born Digital – OneFile Guide

For those of you using OneFile who need a little help navigating the site, Joe Pilgrim, our Digital Learning Co-ordinator has created a OneFile guide (view here), featuring a collection of tutorial videos explaining the different aspects.

The guide will continue to grow and develop so if you have any requests for future videos please contact Joe Pilgrim.

DON’T FORGET: We’ve got two dates coming up for the Digital Learner Journey training sessions (covering digital sign up and digital learner reviews/ learning plans):

DECEMBER Tuesday 4th – 9:30-12:30pm Monday 10th -13:30-16:30pm Head to CascadeGo to book your place.

11

insight

12

insight

celebrating success

Here are some of ACT’s top achievements of the last few weeks. Many congratulations to everyone who has contributed to the achievements.

STAFF RECOGNITION AWARDS NOVEMBER 2018 We are excited to announce the finalists and winners of our recent round of Staff Recognition Awards – the third and final of 2018. A huge congratulations to all who were nominated.

As always it is inspiring to read all about the wonderful people here at ACT who are going above and beyond in their day-to-day roles. A huge well done to the following employees/teams for all their hard work: Operations Support Staff Member of the Year Winner: Chantalle De Claire 2. Georgia Rogers 3. Emma Page Nominated: Jordan Thomas, Julie Maughan, Alan Johnson, Susan Edwards, Tina Jones, Ruth Taylor, Lauren Leslie, Louisa Mallet

Schools Staff Member of the Year Winner: Adam Mayo 2. Leanne Bannister 3. Rahoul Chowdry Traineeships/MTS of the Year Winner: Kirsty Keane 2. Karen Evans 3. Donna Wainscott Nominated: Susan Pope, David Rees, Jade Breheny, Ian Rees, Nadine John, Tim Middleton, Callum Taylor, Stella Roe Assessor of the Year Winner: Jane Vaughan 2. Cheryl Haralambos 3. Zara Jones Nominated: Lara Baldwin, Louisa Mallet, Emma Huggins, Carly Murray, Helen Rogers Manager of the Year Winner: Rebecca Small 2. Neil Evans 3. Amy Allen-Thomas

13

Nominated: Joe Powton, Kath Samuel, Charlotte Dando, Luke Hemming, Ros Lovett, Antony Leach, Angela Clifford Hillman, Allan Catlin-Haggett, Adelle Taylor, Jon Ridout, Vicky Savage, Rebecca Broad, Claire Mirbelle Delivery Support Staff member of the Year Winner: Janet Welch 2. Kim Ford 3. Neil Evans Nominated: Jade Trimnell, Dawn Vardon, Laura Collins, Amy Allen-Thomas Team of the Year Winner: ESW team 2. Management team 3. Business Services team Nominated: CCLD IQA team, IT & Media Apprenticeship team, Engagement team, Health Care Support team, Business Development team, ACT Schools, Marketing & Communications team, Construction team, Traineeships team

insight

Newcomer of the Year Winner: Nadia Turgman 2. Emily Pascoe 3. Hannah Caddick Nominated: Mel Lloyd, Liam Jones Core Vales Champion of the Year Winner: Neil Evans 2. Louisa Mallett 3. Alex Neill Nominated: Lisa Beecham, Janet Welch, Charlotte Sims, Kim Ford, Rebecca Broad Prizes and certificates will be making their way to our winners and finalists very soon. We look forward to welcoming the winners above to the ACT Staff Award Ceremony in December, where they will join winners from our March and July awards to become finalists in their category. The overall winner of each category will be announced at our staff Christmas party on the 21st December.

EU AWARDS SUCCESS Congratulations to Kirsty Keane, our Health and Social Care and Early Years Care Tutor who has successfully been shortlisted for the ‘Best Mentor’ category at the EU Funds Awards 2018.

The category celebrates mentors who have seized opportunities presented by the European Social Fund and gone above and beyond to help people develop new skills, secure a job or find a new career path. Well done Kirsty and best of luck for the finals on 5th December!

MANAGEMENT ACADEMY Congratulations to Lucy Wilkinson, BLC Apprenticeship Contract Manager, Julie Maughan, Lead IQA ESW and Gareth Mathias, Qualifications Co-ordinator, who all recently received their certificates for attending the Management Academy and successfully completing the course. A big well done also to Angela Clifford-

14

Hillman who has passed all of her Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring assignments and is now part of our team of qualified coaches!

LIFE AFTER ACT We will sadly be saying farewell to Wayne Howard, our ALS Tutor at OPH, who will be leaving ACT at the end of November on his 64th birthday! Most people would be happy to put their feet up and retire, but not Wayne.

Instead he’s going to continue pursuing his love of teaching and train to become a Biodanza instructor - a system of selfdevelopment that uses music, movement and positive feelings to deepen self-awareness.

Wayne really does live by ACT’s core values, commenting: “In a world of chaos, I want to connect with people and bring some positivity to people’s lives.”

Thank you for all that you have done during your time here at ACT Wayne, we wish you all the best for your future adventures.

insight

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY

ACT WIN LONGEVITY GROWTH AWARD

To help raise awareness for World Mental Health Day on 10th October, we held Tea & Talk days across all our centres for our learners to take part in. The day was a great success, with learners participating in various mental health awareness sessions and working together in groups to create posters, cupcakes and bunting.

We are thrilled to announce that ACT was awarded the ‘Longevity Growth’ award at the 20th annual Fast Growth 50 Awards on 19th October. We have successfully secured 8 inclusions over the past 20 years. The Fast Growth 50 list is a reminder of the talent, perseverance and hard work of those Welsh entrepreneurs creating wealth and employment in all parts of Wales.

15

insight

Introducing our partner...

Llamau

This new feature is an opportunity to shine a light on the work our partners do. First up is our charity partner Llamau!

16

insight

At ACT we are proud to work in partnership with a strong network of committed, enthusiastic and passionate work-based learning providers. Those who share our values and strive to achieve excellence through collaboration.

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?

TELL US ABOUT A LEARNER WHO YOU’VE HELPED?

I’m Lisa Gardiner, Llamau Learning 4 Life Team Leader. I manage the Learning 4 Life centres, tutors, learner coaches and admin. I’m also in charge of Quality, Curriculums, Operational delivery in centres and I’m the Learning 4 Life IQA.

In any given week in any area I can give you an example of a learner who has turned their life around. It’s all down to their determination. One particular young learner who stands out is a young 17 year old who struggled with severe mental health problems and went as far as planning his own suicide on his 18th birthday. Through working with various agencies we helped build his confidence and enabled him to realise he did have a future that was worth living. He completed the Engagement Traineeship programme with us and is now preparing for a work placement on our Symud Ymlaen/Moving Forward Programme. His 18th birthday was a few months ago and now he only talks about what he is going to do next with his life.

WHAT SERVICES DO LLAMAU PROVIDE? We offer a holistic range of services which help people to put homelessness behind them for good. These include supported housing, including women-only accommodation, tenancy support, refuges for women and children, family mediation, housing and welfare advice, outreach for 14 – 19 year olds and prevocational learning and training.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO WITH ACT

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT WORKING WITH ACT?

Learning 4 Life, which is partly funded by ACT, is the educational department within Llamau that works with the hardest to reach young people. We work with a number of different support agencies to help understand our learner’s barriers, and through lots of one-to-one support we can then implement strategies to help them overcome these issues so they can progress into a mainstream provision such as a Traineeship with ACT.

The biggest value has got to be access to the wider ACT Network and the opportunities that this opens up to our learners. Due to the nature of our work and the fact that we aren’t a mainstream provider, ACT are incredibly understanding and flexible in helping us to support our learners in the ways that they need, but ensuring that we are also still able to follow compliance. We are very protective of our learners but we know when we progress them onto an ACT Engagement programme they will be fully supported during the transition period and their needs and barriers will be fully understood.

17

insight

welsh corner/ cornel cymraeg

AP Y MIS

APP OF THE MONTH

Gyda gemau rhyngwladol yr Hydref ar y stepen ddrws dyma ap i’ch helpu i ddysgu geiriau’r anthem orau! Oeddech chi’n gwybod taw’r Cymry oedd y cyntaf i ganu eu hanthem ar ddechrau gêm chwaraeon? Fe ddigwyddodd yn 1905 pan oedd Cymru’n chwarae’r Crysau Duon, mewn ymateb i’r Haka.

With the autumn internationals on the doorstep here is an app to help you learn the all-important anthem! Did you know that the Welsh were the first to sing their anthem at the start of a sporting fixture? It was in a Wales v All Blacks game in 1905 when the Welsh anthem was sung in response to the Haka.

https://www.llyfrgell.cymru/ darganfod/oriel-ddigidol/ archifau/yr-anthemgenedlaethol/gwlad-gwlad-apyr-anthem/

https://www.library.wales/ discover/digital-gallery/ archives/the-national-anthem/ gwlad-gwlad-the-anthem-app/

PLEASE CONTACT COMMUNICATIONS@ACTTRAINING.ORG.UK TO REQUEST YOUR HAPPY HOUR PASSES thephilharmoniccardiff.co.uk | 76-77 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1FA

18

insight

book club

Last issue our recommended read was ‘Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong about the World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think’. Thank you to everyone who got on board with the book club, ordered a copy and read the book. Below is some of the feedback we received. “'Factfulness' asks if you know more about the world than a chimp. The answer for me, was apparently no! This is a book that makes you think again about what you thought you knew.

For example, I didn't know we were living in the most peaceful time in our existence, or that more girls around the world finish school than ever before.

In this time of Fake News, the authors arm you with the tools to see through the headlines.

The world, by many measures, is a better place today than it was 20 years ago. So yes, let's celebrate the positive news when we can, but let's not forget there is always more that can be done.”

JOE PILGRIM

Our next recommended read is ...

Creativity, Inc: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration’. This book is a manual for anyone who strives for originality, and gives us the first-ever, all-access trip into the nerve centre of Pixar Animation Studios―into the story meetings, the postmortems, and the ‘Braintrust’ sessions where art is born. It is, at heart, a book about how to build and sustain a creative culture―but it is also, as Pixar co-founder and President

Ed Catmull writes, ‘an expression of the ideas that I believe make the best in us possible.’

TO ORDER YOUR COPY EMAIL: bookclub@acttraining.org.uk with your name and centre

by Friday 7th December.

Please submit your thoughts and feedback after reading this book through to Rachael Lewis – as this will feature in the next issue of ACT Insight.

19

insight

20

insight

staff in the spotlight...

This month we put the spotlight on Charlotte Dando, Care, Support & Guidance Manager at our OPH Centre since July 2012.

Tell us a little bit about your role, and what your average day looks like.

I manage the Care, Support and Guidance (CSG) team and Traineeship Regional Managers. My role is all about the learners. The team and I work to develop and provide the best learning support services across both Traineeships and Apprenticeships.

No two days are ever the same.

I meet staff across our delivery sites and partner network to support with safeguarding and all things CSG. I attend external working groups and meetings and work with Katy Wolar, Senior Programme Manager, to develop our learner services and wellbeing support.

What is the most rewarding part of your current role?

The biggest reward for me is when I see the work that we do having a positive impact on our learners and their progress.

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself…

sounds good, but there is only so much chocolate you can eat!

I danced with the Stereophonics at the closing ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in 1999.

How do you like to spend your time when you’re not working?

Where is the best place you have travelled to?

I was fortunate to spend some time working in a special school in Hong Kong, which meant I got to explore places like Cheung Chau on my days off - it’s an island just off the coast of Hong Kong and is a complete contrast to the city and definitely worth a visit.

What was the last album you listened to?

I don’t really listen to albums.

Probably The Best of De La Soul whilst cooking in the kitchen.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

I used to do a Saturday in a confectionary shop. Weighing out chocolate chips all day

21

When I’m not working, I am a mummy to my two little boys.

We love being out and about having adventures and finding muddy puddles.

What would be your top tip for colleagues?

Don’t be afraid to make a decision. The worst decision you can make is no decision.

A big thank you to Charlotte for taking the time to answer our questions this month.

If you would like to feature in our Staff in the Spotlight section, or have a colleague you’d like to put forward, please e-mail Rachael Lewis.

insight

People and development update There have recently been some staffing changes within the People & Development Team, which we’d like to make you aware of.

The various roles and responsibilities of the team and who is the correct point of contact for advice/queries is as follows: Bethan Coyle - Generalist People & Development Officer (with a focus on staff health and wellbeing)

• • • • • • • • •

Lauren Cahill – Generalist People & Development Officer (with a focus on renumeration and benefits) Bethan and Lauren will be the main points of contact for anything related to: • • • •

Vacancy submission and approval Vacancy advertising Job offers and start dates Contracts of employment and job descriptions

Annual leave and sickness Attendance DBS and EWC Terms and conditions of employment Resignations Performance management processes Cascade Go HR module Disciplinary, Grievance and Investigations Maternity/Paternity/ Adoption leave

Rhianydd France – Administrator (responsible for the administrative aspects of P&D and the main point of contact for the Cascade Recruit system, shortlisting candidates and arranging interviews/ feedback).

There will be a new team member, Steve Clark, joining on Monday 19th November,

22

who will be responsible for Payroll, staff mileage and expenses and pension contributions.

Finally, we will be saying farewell to our staff Learning & Development Officer, Alex Neill (leaving ACT on 23rd November) and we are expecting a new L&D Officer to be in place by mid- January 2019. In the interim, Rhianydd will deal with the administrative side of Staff L&D (including the Cascade Go Training system). Rebecca Cooper, Head of P&D will oversee the Staff L&D function and deal with requests for external/commercial training.

Bethan Coyle and Lauren Cahill will cover induction for new staff members.

insight

welcome to our newest recruits!

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

1

Rhianydd France HR Administrator

8

Emma Tickner Graphic Designer

15

2

Debra Jones Counsellor

9

3

Hayley Byfield School Cook

Suzanne Meredith Health and Social Care Assessor (Cardiff)

16

Steve Clark Payroll Officer (People & Development)

4

Mellisah Mphoko Clinical Health Assessor

17

Aisha Bailey MTS Tutor

5

Elidah Nota Health and Social Care Asssessor (Cardiff)

18

Sazzia Ali Ahmun Additional Learning Support Worker

19

Claire Quince Advice & Guidance / Learning & Development Assessor

20

Samuel Kirkby Digital Support Apprentice

6

Natalie Williams Clinical Health Assessor

7

Marcus Ford HLTA

10

Louise Jones MTS Tutor

11

Chloe Mundell Additional Learning Support Worker

12

Justin Owen-Harris Clinical Health Assessor

13

Charlotte Williams Data Administrator

14

Julia Jenkins Health & Social Care Assessor

Caitlin Edmonds Essential Skills Tutor Apprenticeships

FAREWELL TO‌ Rachael Brown, Attendance & Wellbeing Officer

Alex Neill, Learning & Development Officer

Terry Collier, Business Improvements and Manufacturing Operations Assessor

Steph Parry, Management Higher Apprenticeship Assessor

Wayne Howard, Additional Learning Support Worker

Joanne Prior, ESW Tutor

Liam Jones, Children & Young Person Assessor Rhian Lewis, Lead IQA Management Julie Phillips, Curriculum Coordinator Laura Morris-Lloyd, STLS Lead IQA

Angela Powell, Management Higher Apprenticeship Assessor Ceri Rowland, IT, Social Media & Digital Marketing Assessor Owen Shankland, Opportunities Advisor Matthew Simmonds, Management Assessor

23

insight

insight This publication has been brought to you by the Marketing & Communications team.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue.

If you have suggestions, stories or ideas you’d like to share in future issues please do get in touch with Rachael Lewis, Communications Officer rachaellewis@acttraining.org.uk Your ideas and input are always welcome!

24