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Torfaen Council have announced that Stephen Vickers has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Alison Ward following her retirement as Chief Executive after 16 years.
Stephen Vickers is currently Director for Adults and Communities and Director for Adult Social Services at Herefordshire Council and has previously held senior roles in social care and safeguarding at Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council.
Prior to qualifying in social care and working in local government, Stephen trained as an engineer and worked in a number of different roles and industries including being a director of several businesses in the hospitality, retail and consultancy sectors. Stephen also travelled extensively and lived in the USA for over 8 years.
After accepting his appointment Stephen, said: ‘It has been a rigorous selection process, so I’m overjoyed to be appointed as the Chief Executive of Torfaen Council and I relish the personal challenges of the role and the wider challenge of improving lives in Torfaen.
‘I was drawn in to local government due to the care of my grandmother which was unfortunately so inadequate that it compelled me to embark on a new career in social care. I went back to university aged 29 to study and gain my degree in social work. Specialising in mental health, mental capacity and safeguarding as a social worker, I quickly moved into management roles and have been a Director of Adults and Communities in Herefordshire for the last 3 years.
‘I grew up on a large council estate in one of the most deprived areas of Leicester and believe that anyone can reach their potential with determination, a goal and the right support, and we all deserve the opportunity. I’m looking forward to playing my part in making Torfaen a place where children are inspired to achieve, where people can gain new skills to improve or change their lives for the better and to build new relationships with communities.’
Council Leader, Anthony Hunt said: ‘I look forward to Stephen joining our team, and to working alongside him to serve the residents of Torfaen. I’m proud of the way our community and our local services have responded to the immense challenges of the past year. Our staff in Torfaen have gone above and beyond the call of duty, and that is testament to the culture in our organisation – we work together as a team. Similarly, volunteers in our communities have been real heroes, helping out those in need at a difficult time. So the foundations are there. We now need to harness that potential to recover and build for the future, and a happier, healthier, more resilient, sustainable and prosperous Torfaen. Alongside other colleagues, I’m confident Stephen will play an integral part in that journey.’
Stephen will start in Torfaen on July 5.
Mae Cyngor Torfaen wedi cyhoeddi bod Stephen Vickers wedi ei benodi’n Brif Weithredwr newydd, gan ddilyn Alison Ward wedi iddi ymddeol fel Prif Weithredwr ar ôl 16 mlynedd yn y swydd.
Mae Stephen Vickers yn Gyfarwyddwr Oedolion a Chymunedau a Chyfarwyddwr Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol i Oedolion gyda Chyngor Swydd Henffordd ar hyn o bryd ac mae wedi gweithio fel uwch swyddog gofal cymdeithasol a diogelu gyda Chyngor Swydd Gaerlŷr a Chyngor Dinas Caerlŷr.
Cyn cymhwyso mewn gofal cymdeithasol a gweithio mewn llywodraeth leol, cafodd Stephen hyfforddiant fel peiriannydd a bu’n gweithio mewn nifer o swyddi a diwydiannau gwahanol, gan gynnwys gweithio fel cyfarwyddwr nifer o fusnesau ym meysydd lletygarwch, manwerthu ac ymgynghori. Mae Stephen wedi teithio’n helaeth hefyd a bu’n byw yn UDA am dros 8 mlynedd.
Ar ôl derbyn y penodiad, dywedodd Stephen: ‘Mae hi wedi bod yn broses ddewis drwyadl, felly rydw i wrth fy modd o gael fy mhenodi’n Brif Weithredwr Cyngor Torfaen ac rwy’n edrych ymlaen at heriau personol y rôl a her ehangach gwella bywydau yn Nhorfaen.
‘Ces i fy nhynnu at lywodraeth leol oherwydd gofal a gafodd fy mam-gu a oedd mor annigonol nes iddo fy ngwthio i yrfa newydd mewn gofal cymdeithasol. Es i yn ôl i’r Brifysgol yn 29 oed i astudio a chael gradd mewn gwaith cymdeithasol. Gan arbenigo mewn iechyd meddal, gallu meddyliol a diogelu fel gweithiwr cymdeithasol, es i i mewn i swyddi rheoli ar rwyf wedi bod yn Gyfarwyddwr Oedolion a Chymunedau yn Swydd Henffordd am y tair blynedd ddiwethaf.
‘Ces i fy magu ar ystâd cyngor mawr yn un o ardaloedd mwyaf difreintiedig Caerlŷr ac rwy’n credu bodd modd i bawb gyrraedd eu potensial gyda digon o benderfyniad, nod a’r gefnogaeth gywir, a’n bod ni i gyd yn haeddu’r cyfle. Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at chwarae rhan wrth wneud Torfaen yn rhywle ble mae plant yn cael eu hysbrydoli i lwyddo, ble gall pobl gael sgiliau newydd i wella neu newid eu bywydau er gwell ac adeiladu perthnasau newydd â chymunedau.’
Dywedodd Arweinydd y Cyngor, Anthony Hunt: ‘Rwy’n edrych ymlaen at gael Stephen i ymuno â’n tîm, a gweithio ochr yn ochr ag ef i wasanaethu trigolion Torfaen. Rwy’n falch o’r ffordd y mae ein cymuned wedi ymateb i heriau anferth y flwyddyn ddiwethaf. Mae ein staff yn Nhorfaen wedi mynd yr ail filltir, ac mae hynny’n dyst i ddiwylliant ein sefydliad – rydym yn gweithio gyda’n gilydd fel tîm. Yn yr un ffordd, mae gwirfoddolwyr yn ein cymunedau wedi bod yn arwyr go iawn, gan helpu’r rheiny sydd mewn angen ar adeg anodd. Felly, mae’r seiliau yno. Mae angen nawr i ni harneisio’r potensial hynny nawr er mwyn adfer ac adeiladu at y dyfodol, a bod yn Dorfaen sy’n fwy hapus, yn iachach, mwy cydnerth, cynaliadwy a llewyrchus. Ochr yn ochr â chydweithwyr eraill, rwy’n hyderus y bydd Stephen yn chwarae rhan annatod ar y daith honno.’
Bydd Stephen yn dechrau ar ei waith yn Nhorfaen ar Orffennaf 5.
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