THE business manager of a care home in Rhyl has been selected as a finalist for a national award.

Sian Jones, of St David’s Residential Home on East Parade, was nominated for the Caring in Welsh award 2024 by the home’s directors, Ruth Parry and David Waltho.

Held by Social Care Wales, the Caring in Welsh award recognises, celebrates and shares the work of those who’ve made a real difference to people’s lives by providing care and support through the medium of Welsh.

The award recognises the work of people working in social care and childcare, play and early years from across the public, private, voluntary and co-operative sectors in Wales.

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David said: “Sian recognises the significance of the Welsh language in providing care, and has taken steps to make sure it’s used in the care home as much as possible.”

To help Sian do this, she carried out a Welsh language skills analysis for staff and identified all Welsh speaking residents and visitors.

This has helped make sure that everyone receives care and support in their preferred language.

Sian provides staff with resources to help them learn some Welsh, including putting boards up around the home with useful phrases and interesting facts about Wales and the Welsh language.

She has also encouraged staff to complete a Welsh language awareness course, which has had a big impact on staff’s confidence using Welsh.

She has also redesigned St David’s Residential Home’s logo and letterhead so that they’re bilingual, and has done a lot of work to provide a bilingual website, making the Welsh language a visible and integrated part of the culture at the home.

In addition, she worked with the Welsh Language Commissioner to put together a report and action plan to identify areas of improvement.

Ruth said this makes sure that “Welsh language care and support services will be more accessible to our residents, staff and visitors now and in the future”.

The 2024 Caring in Welsh award will be held at the Rhondda Cynon Taf National Eisteddfod on August 6.

This year, five workers from across the social care and childcare, play and early years sectors were chosen as finalists for the award.