A Word from Aled.

I hope you all had a chance to enjoy the recent nice weather. The rain may have arrived by the time this newsletter reaches you but I really hope we have a real summer this year.

In the last newsletter I was referring to good news in relation to the Council's decision to allocate over £1 5 million for the review and reevaluation of frontline service delivery jobs in the care field By now, the adjustments to the salaries of the majority of jobs that are affected have been implemented with an increase in the salary and back pay back to the 1st of April included with the May salaries. A handful of positions are still subject to discussion with staff due to the changes in the job descriptions but I am hopeful that we can reach an agreement on this soon so that we can complete the changes for everyone. I believe that the Council has taken an important step forward with this progress and has done what was possible within their power But I am also very aware that it is necessary to continue with the efforts at a national level to try to ensure that wages in the care field are competitive and fair. In addition to the Delivery side, work is also being done to look at professional positions within the Council including positions of social workers, therapists etc. Its early days but we hope to be able to develop options soon. Once the picture is clearer, I will share further information with you through the newsletter.

In terms of our day-to-day work, the pressure from the Health Board to release beds has lessened somewhat and our waiting lists for home care are reducing There are a number of reasons for this including the fact that the new regime for home care is stabilising However, they have not disappeared and we have a lot of work to do to get to where we would like to be especially in some areas. Thank you all for your contribution to achieving this We need to continue with and expand the preventive efforts and use community resources and services together with technology (telecare) to support people so that we reduce the number who are in real need but continue to wait for home care.

Finally, I would like to convey a specific thank you to the TAC De Meirionnydd staff for your recent work following the closure of the Tywyn hospital ward There were thanks and appreciation from many areas with local members raising the issue and sharing their praise in the full Council. On my part, Dylan as Director, Councillor Dilwyn Morgan as a cabinet member and all his fellow members and everyone else involved in the matter I would like to convey our thanks to Llinos and the whole team for their work in difficult circumstances