Penarth Mayor welcomes German social workers to town

THE Mayor of Penarth, Cllr Anthony Ernest, recently welcomed a team of German social workers to West House.

The project is part of an exchange programme funded by the European Union to identify and share best practice in the field of care provision for young people.

Last year 10 Welsh professionals spent a week with their counterparts in Berlin, and on the recent return trip, their German colleagues visited council services and charities involved in looking after young people in care, with a particular interest in care leavers.

In addition to the exchange of professionals, the care leavers themselves are also taking part in exchanges and five young care leavers from Wales visited Germany last year with another four flying out last week.

Carl Mathews, director of European Training Services, said: “Our main office is here in South Wales and we are very proud to join forces with local social care professionals to discover new approaches in this field across Europe, and to try to bring those new ideas back to Wales.”

In 2012 there are plans to extend the initiative to Hungary, France, Italy and Spain.

Cllr Ernest said: “We were very pleased to welcome these social workers from Germany to Penarth, and I understand that they found their time here both rewarding and enjoyable.

“ETS are in the process of developing their links with a number of new European countries, and expect that more exchanges with Penarth will take place as a result.

“The Town Council is always happy to support local companies who bring both employment and appropriate experience into the area.”