The dedication, resilience and hard work of safeguarding professionals across the Mid and West Wales region has been celebrated and rewarded at Dyfed Powys Police Headquarters, Llangunnor, Carmarthen.

The Mid and West Wales Safeguarding Boards for Children and for Adults held its second award ceremony to recognise the contribution key workers from a variety of public sector agencies have played in keeping the most vulnerable children and adults in our communities safe.

Practitioners recognised included health professionals and nurses, police officers, social workers, education professionals and residential care workers and managers.

Their work was recognised across eight categories of award, as follows:

• Exceptional Commitment and Dedication Demonstrated to the Safeguarding of Children

• Exceptional Commitment and Dedication Demonstrated to the Safeguarding of Adults at Risk

• Achievement, Innovation and/or Improving Safeguarding Practice for Children

• Achievement, Innovation and/or Improving Safeguarding Practice for Adults at Risk

• Participatory Practice / Co-production in the Safeguarding of Children, Families or Adults at Risk

• Long Service Recognition/Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Safeguarding Practice and Development for Children or Adults at Risk

• Significant Wider Community Safeguarding – Practice That Has Had a Positive Impact on the Community in the Safeguarding of Children or Adults

• Exceptional Safeguarding Practice in a Residential Establishment for Children or Adults at Risk

Children and young people from across the region were also recognised for their work in developing a training resource and animation for practitioners and professionals working with children who may be at risk of harm.

The ceremony was attended and addressed by the Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, Welsh Government, Albert Heaney, who said:

“As Chief Social Care Officer for Wales, I am delighted that we are all taking the time to recognise the vital work our safeguarding professionals are doing. Their dedication to providing support and protection for the most vulnerable individuals across Mid and West Wales is to be commended.”

The Pembrokeshire award-winners were:

• Gareth Tucker: Significant Wider Community Safeguarding – Practice that has had a Positive Impact on the Community in the Safeguarding of Children or Adults;

• Cheryl Loughlin: Long Service Recognition/ Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Safeguarding Practice and Development for Children or Adults at Risk;

• Julie Cunningham: Long Service Recognition/ Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Safeguarding Practice and Development for Children or Adults at Risk;

• Karen Panter: Long Service Recognition/ Lifetime Achievement Award for Contribution to Safeguarding Practice and Development for Children or Adults at Risk.