The purpose of this instrument is to make technical operability changes to parts of retained EU legislation relevant to the import of animals and animal products, in order to assist with the interpretation of cross-referenced Directive provisions. This will provide additional legal clarity.

The play area in Ashmore Park, Wednesfield, had to be closed to allow repair work to be carried out on a 96 metre deep shaft that once served the former Ashmore Park Colliery.

The Coal Authority was called in by the City of Wolverhampton Council after it was discovered that snow had melted in a circular patch above the shaft, indicating that the fill within had settled to create an air pocket with an increased temperature.

Initial drilling investigations found a significant cavity in the top section of shaft, which made the decision on how to treat it safely more of a challenge.

Our engineers consulted a variety of other sources, including detailed abandonment plans for the colliery held in our archive and ground investigation reports provided by the council.

It was decided the safest way to carry out the works was to install a drilling platform to span the potential collapse zone and then treat the shaft by cementitious grouting.

The works, which were carried out by Soil Engineering Ltd and took a month to complete, began with the cavity being filled with 57 tonnes of gravel to minimise the risk of the shaft walls collapsing and give the drill rods something to drill through.

Then more than 200 tonnes of cement-based grout were used to create a 44 metre cementitious ‘plug’, making the shaft stable.

Coal Authority project manager James Walker said the repair proved to be an interesting project because of the engineering challenges found during the investigations. He added:

It took time to make the repairs because we had to plan how to undertake the works safely. But the shaft is now safe and the potential for it to collapse in the future has been removed.

In this video Coal Authority engineer Katherine Halfpenny, who designed the solution, explains more about the work:

Mine shaft in Ashmore Park play area made safe

You can report a coal mine hazard to us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 01623 646 333.

Lyn Romeo, the Chief Social Worker for Adults, will be taking a 12-month leave of absence for personal reasons from October. Fran Leddra and Mark Harvey will cover the post on a job-share basis.

Fran is currently Principal Social Worker and Strategic Lead of Safeguarding and Adult Social Care in Thurrock Council. Mark Harvey is Operations Director for adult disability services in Hertfordshire County Council. They will retain their current roles in local authorities, which will put them in a unique position to take on the role of Chief Social Worker. 

Fran has worked in the social care sector for more than 30 years and is currently at Thurrock Council in a team that is recognised for making transformative changes. She is a strong advocate of safeguarding practice and building partnerships across the sector, ensuring the profession upholds its values and responsibilities.

Mark has over 25 years’ experience in the sector, starting as a care assistant in a learning disability residential unit. Throughout his career he has worked in local authorities and NHS trusts, predominantly in mental health and learning disability services.

Over the past few years he has been the Principal Social Worker for Hertfordshire and co-chair of the national Principal Social Workers (PSW) network. He is now the operations director for adult disability services in Hertfordshire.

Fran Leddra, new joint Chief Social Worker for Adults, said:

I’m delighted to be able to job-share the Chief Social Worker role with Mark Harvey and continue the work we do on a national platform.

Mark and I have both held the co-chair role for the Principal Social Workers Network and this experience undoubtedly led us to apply for this secondment opportunity. With a challenging year ahead, we want to continue to drive forward the Chief Social Worker priorities and to ensure social work and social care is high on the political agenda.

Mark Harvey, new joint Chief Social Worker for Adults, said:

To work alongside Fran as the Chief Social Worker is a fantastic opportunity and something I am immensely keen to bring my front-line experience to. The year ahead is likely to be one of significant change and opportunity. I am looking forward to continuing Lyn Romeo’s work to lead an approach that can embed social work at the core of DHSC’s work to achieve a better outcome for the people we serve.

Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, said:

As the first ever Chief Social Worker for Adults in the Department of Health and Social Care, I have been very privileged to have undertaken this role since September 2013. During this time social work has been repositioned as the key social care profession in working alongside people, carers and communities to ensure they get the support they need in the right way to enable them to have better safer and fulfilling lives.  

I am delighted that Fran Leddra and Mark Harvey will be the new chief social workers. I know they will do a fantastic job and am sure they will receive the support that I have enjoyed from the department and the wider sector.

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers.