A former metal stockist quality assurance manager from Bridgend says she has never looked back since swapping metal for people.

The career switch proved so successful that Wendy Edwards has now been shortlisted to receive an honour at the Wales Care Awards 2024, known as the Oscars of social care.

Since being recruited as a Human Resources (HR) Officer by Bridgend group, Partnerships for Progress PfP, in 2021 Wendy has made a big impression on all her colleagues.

Her job includes recruiting and retaining team members, monitoring their wellbeing, helping managers and directors develop positive leadership skills and maintaining morale amongst the team.

Wendy loves to travel when not at work.

She said: “I love my job. Prior to this I spent more than 30 years as a quality manager with a metal and plastics stockist.

“When I left I knew I wanted to carry on working but after three decades of dealing mainly with products I decided it was time for me to work with people.

“I wanted to do something which I hoped would make a positive difference in our community.

“It was a quirk of fate really which brought me into HR. I applied to PfP for an admin job covering a year’s maternity leave. Whilst doing the admin role, I worked alongside the then HR officer, when she moved on to pastures new I was offered the role as HR Officer .

“By then I knew for sure I had found my niche. From the first day I walked in the door at PfP I loved it, I enjoy working with everyone here, the company’s ethos chimes exactly with my own.”

Wendy enjoys the job satisfaction she feels from ensuring everyone feels valued, listening to and dealing with any staff problems and promoting collaboration among all team members

PfP runs a residential family centre to support parents with their newborn babies.  Its aim is to support every child to have the best start in life and help more families stay together when it is assessed as safe and in the best interests of the child”.

Wendy said: “While I don’t deal directly with our families, I feel I’m indirectly contributing to the support they receive at PfP. By ensuring the individuals we recruit align with our mission and values, our workforce morale is high then their positive energy will impact beneficially on the families they are supporting.

“It just makes sense that if the team are happy, the families are more likely to be too.  We believe in helping everyone to make the best of their potential and I really feel that comes through in our culture.”

PfP Development Director Peter Max nominated Wendy for the Commitment to a Support Function award sponsored by leading residential home resources supplier Care Home Life.

The eventual winners of gold, silver and bronze accolades will be announced during the Wales Care Awards 2024 presentation evening at Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Friday, October 18.

Peter said: “Wendy is a really effective, supportive and caring HR officer who has a natural sense of fairness and balance. She is helping drive forward a culture and approach that enables all staff to provide a supportive, positive environment in which families can flourish.

“She has an open-door policy and always spends time with team members when they need it and is assertive about advocating for team members if she feels we are not being as supportive as we should be.”

Wendy was overjoyed to hear she had made it to the final shortlist for an award, but said the credit for any accolade should be shared with her entire team.

She said: “I would not be able to successfully do my job if it were not for the people who support me, so I see this as a tribute to all my team who are crucial to helping promote a positive environment at PfP.”

Away from the office Wendy, of Pontycymer, Bridgend, enjoys spending time with her family including husband Neil, who is looking forward to accompanying her to the awards ceremony.

They have two grown up children Zack, 27 and Millie 22, plus the family dog, Poppy who Wendy loves to take long walks on the beach.

Ontex Healthcare is the overall sponsor for the awards evening which will be hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.

The shortlist of finalists in each category has been whittled down from hundreds of nominees in the social care sector across Wales. Each finalist will receive a gold, silver or bronze accolade.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, which oversees the Wales Care Awards, said: “Our aim is to recognise the unstinting, often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines on the front line of social care in Wales.

“The sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.

“If you don’t recognise those who do the caring you will never provide the high standards people require and never recognise the value of the people who need care in society.

“We must do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce which deserves to be lauded and applauded.

“It’s a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”