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COVID-19 Update: 13th May

In today's COVID-19 update from Cardiff Council: a new partnership to continue support for vulnerable children during the crisis; guidance from the Welsh Government on lockdown regulations in Wales; and the singing security guard of Cardiff Castle - how a redeployed tour guide is making the most of the iconic landmark's acoustic qualities during lockdown.

 

Partnership approach supports Cardiff's vulnerable children

Professionals from a range of Health, Education and Children's Services teams have joined together to ensure children with complex disabilities and medical needs can continue to receive the support they need, during COVID-19.

Themulti-agency group has been established to provide pupils and their families with access to services, advice and support from a number of health care, education and children's services professionals.

In addition, a triage service has been developed which families and professionals can refer into for children with healthcare needs, so that the correct level of advice and support can be accessed.

The group meets weekly and includes school staff, social workers,clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, community nurses, paediatricians, special needs health visitors, dieticians and physiotherapists.

Cardiff Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said:  "Our teams have worked hard to set up and establish the running of this multi-agency approach which is proving to have a positive impact on pupils and their families, ensuring that they can access all the care and support they need in one location, whilst still maintaining measures to reduce the spread of infection.

"It is positive to see an extensive range of professionals, all working together to ensure children and young peoples' needs are being met in a holistic way during the COVID-19 response and supporting our families."

Cabinet Member for Children and Families, Cllr Graham Hinchey said: "The global health crisis is an unnerving time for all of us but particularly our most vulnerable children and young people. For those with complex medical or learning needs, this disruption to routine and to the normal day-to-day care they receive could be upsetting and have a damaging effect on wellbeing. This excellent example of collaborative working, is ensuring that the best care and support continues during these difficult times."

Rose Whittle, Directorate Manager for Community Child Health at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "It has been really positive to see how our multidisciplinary clinical teams have responded to the current crisis, looking for innovative solutions and working collaboratively with colleagues from Education and Social Care. This has helped to deliver a multi-agency response to support the wellbeing of children and young people with complex disabilities and medical needs, ensuring a responsive service to families. Thank you to everyone involved, it really is partnership working at its very best."

 

Welsh Government Coronavirus Regulations

The Welsh Government is responsible for the public health response to the coronavirus in Wales.

It is doing this by exercising its legal powers to take measures to prevent or slow the spread of coronavirus, and by supporting NHS Wales.

New rules are now in force, which mean you must stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS. These rules may differ to other parts of the UK, so it is important you understand them.

Stay at home. Save lives. Protect the NHS.

You can:

  • Go out for exercise. Please see theexercise guidancefor more information:
    https://gov.wales/leaving-home-exercise-guidance
  • Travel to work, provided your place of work remains open and you cannot work from home.
  • Go out to buy food, medicines, or other supplies, but you should stay at least 2m away from other people. Please see thebusiness closures guidancefor more information:
    https://gov.wales/leaving-home-exercise-guidance
  • Go out to your garden, yard, garage or shed.
  • Visit your GP or local health services, including the dentist.
  • Provide care or help to a vulnerable person. This includes getting food and medicines for them.
  • Help the NHS by donating blood.
  • Leave your house to avoid injury or illness or to escape the risk of harm.
  • Leave your house to attend afuneralif you are responsible for organising the funeral, if you are invited by the organiser, or if you are the carer of any person attending the funeral:
    https://gov.wales/attending-funerals-during-coronavirus-pandemic

You must not:

  • Gather in a group of more than 2 people in a public place, unless you live with them, or they are your carer.
  • Travel or be outside without a reasonable excuse. A reasonable excuse includes the examples listed above.

Read more here:

https://gov.wales/coronavirus-regulations-guidance

 

The singing security guard performing lockdown gigs at Cardiff Castle

Manic Street Preachers, Nile Rodgers, The Killers, Paul Weller - the list of music legends that have played gigs to thousands of adoring fans at Cardiff Castle is pretty impressive, but with the Castle currently closed to visitors it's now hosting a series of impromptu lockdown gigs, performed by a Cardiff Council worker during breaks on his night shifts as a security guard.

The acoustic gigs are being performed by Jodie Daniels under cover of darkness, in the empty grounds and Burges designed rooms, including some which aren't generally accessible to the public, and then uploaded to YouTube for people to enjoy.

Many of the Castle's most magnificent rooms, including The Great Hall and the Arab Room have hosted performances but one of Jodie's favourite place to play is a little more unusual - the bathroom in the Grand Tower which according to the young musician has "great acoustics."

Cover versions currently on YouTube include ‘I Want to Break Free' by Queen, the Beatles' ‘Come Together', and ‘One Hand in my Pocket' by Alanis Morissette.

Being a security guard, let alone gigging at Cardiff Castle, is a far cry from Jodie's day job. Normally that involves acting as a guide to some of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who flock to the Castle each year, but with the Castle closed and reduced staffing levels due to Covid-19, he is one of hundreds of Council staff who have been redeployed into new roles so that essential services can continue to be delivered.

You can read the full story here:

https://www.cardiffnewsroom.co.uk/releases/c25/23855.html