A project and behavioural support manager who followed his sister into the care profession after a career U-turn said he owes a prestigious gold award to her.

Chris Davis supports people with learning and development within Values in Care – an organisation based in Ystrad Mynach which helps people with complex needs live their lives to the full.

The 30-year-old from Wyllie, Caerphilly,  leads a team which has been working with Educ8 Training Group to deliver a range of apprenticeship programmes to make a lasting difference to the quality of service provision, by developing the skills and knowledge of their colleagues in-house.

Chris’ passion saw him scoop gold in the 2022 Wales Care Awards sponsored by Ontex Healthcare after being shortlisted for the Commitment to Training & Workforce Development Award, sponsored by City & Guilds and WJEC.

The event was held in Cardiff and was hosted by tenor and radio presenter Wynne Evans, better known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads.

They are run in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most.

Chris said: “The entire awards do was a massive blur, I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since, I’m still buzzing.

“It was so lovely and such an honour to be a part of such a brilliant night rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bryn Terfel.

“I’m so proud to be a part of such an amazing team.”

Values in Care was established in 2003 and has 18 supported living settings supporting adults with learning disabilities across South Wales.

They also have a community hub to support all services users with arts and crafts, money skills, woodwork, cooking and other life skills and have been described as having a “positive impact on the community.”

Chris started his career at Liberty Care six years ago as an apprentice and currently has 42 members of staff studying apprenticeships with Values in Care.

He left retail and started working in the care sector as a support worker in 2016 and described his current role as his “dream job.”

He added: “My favourite part of my job is delivering training and I have been so lucky to have amazing people/organisations that have supported me since starting.

“Liberty Care gave me the best opportunities to develop in my career and I am so grateful to that company.

“Values in Care have believed in me and understood the importance of training and supported me to develop training packs and deliver bespoke courses to some of the best staff I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”

He added: “I owe so much to my sister Ceri, I never would have started in Care without her.

“And watching how she does her job with so much pride and dedication has always inspired me to be better, she deserves an award.”

Chris, who has completed three qualifications through Educ8 also praised his team and mentors as well as his family, especially his wife and best friend, Jo who he described as his “rock.”

“I would not have been on that stage receiving that gold award at the Wales Care Awards without my wife or the amazing people in my life. Thank you, all of you,” he said.

Mario Kreft, chairman of Care Forum Wales, said the ceremony was all the more poignant because of the Covid pandemic and what front line staff had endured.

He said: “I would like to pay a heartfelt tribute to all the wonderful people who work in social care after the rose magnificently and courageously to meet the unprecedented challenges they have faced over the past couple of years.

“We have always recognised their true value and hopefully now the rest of Wales is also aware of how lucky we are as a nation to  have them providing care and safeguarding our most vulnerable people.

“Our finalists are the best of the best and are here representing the whole social care workforce who all deserve a big pat on the back.

“There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.

“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights and in the months and years to come.

“In the words of the powerful song, Heroes of our Heart, written by the acclaimed poet Mererid Hopwood and sung by Sir Bryn Terfel, let the Diolch last forever.

”We take our hats off to them.”