Walsall Council is in the running for APSE Gold

The council’s finalists are as follows:

Best Health and Wellbeing Initiative (including Social Care) — Walsall Together

Best Collaborative Working Initiative (with other public sector or third sector) — Children’s Services’ Holiday Activities and Food initiative

Best Service Team — Waste Management and Recycling Service

Best Service Team — Sports, Leisure and Cultural Service

Councillor Mike Bird, Leader of Walsall Council said:

“This is fantastic news and I speak for all of my cabinet members when I say I’m really proud of, and pleased for, the teams concerned. Being shortlisted is in itself recognition of how these loyal and hard-working members of staff have made a positive impact on the lives of Walsall residents and I whole-heartedly thank them for that.

“Our workforce has not only kept the wheels on the bus going round and round in continuing to deliver essential services during the pandemic to support our most vulnerable residents and our Walsall economy, but has also driven innovation and service improvement.

“Whatever the outcome, they’re all winners in my eyes.”

The winners will be announced at the APSE Annual Charity Awards Dinner, in aid of Parkinson’s UK, on Thursday 15 September 2022 at the brand new state of the art Swansea Arena.

~ENDS~

Note to Editor

Submission summaries

Best Service Team — Sports, Leisure & Cultural Service

Walsall Council’s Sport and Leisure Service recorded a significant number of successes over the last year despite challenging external pressures. Achievements in attracting investment, contribution to Council priorities, facility and workforce development, has ensured that services continue to be delivered to a high standard. Benefits gleaned from consistent service improvement has helped to bring communities together during these unprecedented times.

Best Service Team of the Year — Waste Management & Recycling Service

Following the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent national lockdowns, it became clear the pandemic would have enormous impact on delivery of public services in the years to come.

Council waste collections were key front line services, and service delivery had to go on.

In Walsall, despite the greatest challenges ever faced in managing and sustaining resources, very quickly the response was “business as usual”, ongoing, unchanged state of affairs despite difficulties or disturbances, continuing as we always do, despite the situation.

Best Health & Wellbeing Initiative (including Social Care) — Walsall Together

December 2021: Walsall’s health and social care economy approaching crisis point, the Acute Trust nearing level four, most nursing homes and a high number of residential homes closed to admissions due to being in outbreak or at capacity. Omicron hit like a tidal wave. The local system escalated the impending crisis of care homes’ possible failure under the business continuity challenges created by unprecedented workforce absences. Walsall Together (Walsall’s Integrated Care Partnership [ICP]) rose to the challenge.

Best Collaborative Working Initiative (with other public or third sector) — Walsall Holiday and Activities Food Programme (HAF)

School holidays are a period of concern with many families experiencing food poverty and learning loss. COVID-19 has only exacerbated this, with more and more families struggling to access a nutritious diet and more children from low-income families experiencing isolation. Walsall Council has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with public, private and voluntary sector partners to put in place an innovative partnership providing over 3,000 disadvantaged children with healthy food and enriching activities with positive and long-lasting impacts.