Brickies turn their hands to showers
A group of council-employed brickies have been swapping sand and cement for pipes and elbow joints in an effort to help the authority clear a waiting list of shower adaptations.
The bricklayers, employed by the council’s Building Services division, have been on a basic plumbing skills course at Coleg Sir Gar’s Ammanford campus.
The extra training was suggested by the staff themselves, as part of the council’s ongoing efforts to make efficiency savings wherever possible.
It means they are now multi-skilled, and are able to help carry out shower adaptations for tenants living in council-owned homes.
Head of Property Services, Phil Lumley, said: “A group of our bricklayers used our staff suggestion scheme to offer their services if they could receive basic plumbing skills training.
“We thought this was an ideal solution to help us get through the waiting list for shower adaptations in the Llanelli area, whilst up-skilling our workforce and saving the authority the need to employ outside plumbing contractors.
“Four bricklayers have taken part in the plumbing course, which has been provided by partners at Coleg Sir Gar.”
Shower adaptations are provided to tenants who have been assessed by occupational therapists as requiring easier access to bathroom facilities.
The Building Services team moves in, removes baths and fits level access shower trays or wet floor areas, and new thermostatic electric showers with enclosures, dropdown seats and grab rails.
The Building Services division forms part of the council’s Technical Services department, and is responsible for the repair, maintenance and improvement of the council’s property assets, which includes over 9,200 council homes, schools, leisure facilities and social care establishments.
It employs its own tradesmen, from bricklayers, to plasterers and electricians, and also works with outside contractors to ensure its property assets are maintained and legally compliant.
Cllr Philip Hughes, executive board member for Technical Services, said: “It was a pleasure to hear that these bricklayers had put themselves forward for plumbing training to help the authority cope with the demand for shower adaptations.
“As well as helping us to provide a service to a number of ours tenants, they have also helped the authority to save money and for that they must be commended.”
Council-employed brick layers who are being given basic training in plumbing to help carry out shower adaptations. From left - bricklayer Johnny Jenkins; plumbing lecturer Mike Phoenix; bricklayer Jeff Thomasson; plumbing team leader Richard Hicks; Executive Board member Cllr Philip Hughes; and bricklayer Gareth Thomas. Also, not pictured, bricklayer Gethin Williams. Pic Jeff Connell
The bricklayers, employed by the council’s Building Services division, have been on a basic plumbing skills course at Coleg Sir Gar’s Ammanford campus.
The extra training was suggested by the staff themselves, as part of the council’s ongoing efforts to make efficiency savings wherever possible.
It means they are now multi-skilled, and are able to help carry out shower adaptations for tenants living in council-owned homes.
Head of Property Services, Phil Lumley, said: “A group of our bricklayers used our staff suggestion scheme to offer their services if they could receive basic plumbing skills training.
“We thought this was an ideal solution to help us get through the waiting list for shower adaptations in the Llanelli area, whilst up-skilling our workforce and saving the authority the need to employ outside plumbing contractors.
“Four bricklayers have taken part in the plumbing course, which has been provided by partners at Coleg Sir Gar.”
Shower adaptations are provided to tenants who have been assessed by occupational therapists as requiring easier access to bathroom facilities.
The Building Services team moves in, removes baths and fits level access shower trays or wet floor areas, and new thermostatic electric showers with enclosures, dropdown seats and grab rails.
The Building Services division forms part of the council’s Technical Services department, and is responsible for the repair, maintenance and improvement of the council’s property assets, which includes over 9,200 council homes, schools, leisure facilities and social care establishments.
It employs its own tradesmen, from bricklayers, to plasterers and electricians, and also works with outside contractors to ensure its property assets are maintained and legally compliant.
Cllr Philip Hughes, executive board member for Technical Services, said: “It was a pleasure to hear that these bricklayers had put themselves forward for plumbing training to help the authority cope with the demand for shower adaptations.
“As well as helping us to provide a service to a number of ours tenants, they have also helped the authority to save money and for that they must be commended.”
Council-employed brick layers who are being given basic training in plumbing to help carry out shower adaptations. From left - bricklayer Johnny Jenkins; plumbing lecturer Mike Phoenix; bricklayer Jeff Thomasson; plumbing team leader Richard Hicks; Executive Board member Cllr Philip Hughes; and bricklayer Gareth Thomas. Also, not pictured, bricklayer Gethin Williams. Pic Jeff Connell
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