MAWWFRS team members awarded by West Glamorgan Safeguarding Board

Staff members from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were recognised for their outstanding contribution to safeguarding at the West Glamorgan Safeguarding Boards’ Safeguarding Recognition Awards Ceremony which took place virtually on 29th June 2021.

The ceremony was an opportunity to recognise those whose contributions had provided a real and positive impact on people’s lives and to celebrate these outstanding contributions to safeguarding.

Karen Jones, Head of Community Safety at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘Staff from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service had been nominated for awards due to their outstanding work in safeguarding adults and children, and for their continued efforts in safely delivering these essential services despite the challenges of lockdown. The nominations had referenced some notable interventions that staff had undertaken but these were only a small number of examples of the excellent work undertaken by Service staff every day in identifying and reducing risk.’

In November 2020, whilst operating under Covid-19 protocols, members of the Community Safety Department Tina Sherriff and Janet Lloyd attended the address of a vulnerable person in Swansea and identified a smell of gas and immediately summoned assistance from Morriston Fire Station who were able to confirm high readings of gas and carbon monoxide, which was further confirmed by utilities company upon their arrival. Tina and Janet remained at the scene and provided first aid along with providing referrals and engagement with partner and support agencies as well as family members in order to ensure that the vulnerable person was safeguarded from harm.

The Community Safety Department were also nominated for their innovation and improving practice in safeguarding and a Special Recognition award was made to Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff, recognising the contribution they make to the overall safeguarding of adults and children. 

Community Safety Officers James Comey and Joanna Phillips were nominated for their exceptional commitment to the safeguarding of children as a result of their excellent work completed with a child where there were extreme concerns regarding the child’s fire setting behaviour and the dangers it posed for the family and wider community.

Jo and James were not put off by the difficulties faced and pulled out all the stops, meeting with a behaviourist psychologist, making their sessions with the child as active as possible and working around the needs of the child in order to find the perfect individual solution.

Deputy Safeguarding Lead Jay Crouch, who is also a Dementia Friend and trainer, visited many elderly people within the community who had come to attention due to cooking left unattended along with working with children and young people who had been setting fires in the home. Jay coordinated provisions and provided drivers to take care of vulnerable members of the community including assisting those to receive their vaccinations.

Emyr Davies and Robert Goldsmith were also commended on providing visits to high risk members of the community in the Neath Port Talbot and Swansea, including an incident where they provided immediate response and safeguarding to a victim of domestic abuse where there was a risk of arson, ensuring that suitable safeguarding was put in place in order to keep the family safe.

The response to the awards was excellent with 85 nominations provided across six categories and the ceremony was attended by 206 professionals. The award winners were selected by an independent multi-agency panel and were presented virtually by Young People and Special Guests.