A former barber who has been cutting the hair for the boys in the care home he now works at is aiming to be a cut above at an awards ceremony.

Craig Jones, from Wrexham, who works at Pant Glas Uchaf care home near Ruthin, has been shortlisted for the Peter Clarke Award for Promoting Excellence in Services at the Wales Care Awards.

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Craig has worked at Pant Glas Uchaf, which accommodates about six youngsters, some with complex behavioural problems, for the past seven years.

He put his skills as a qualified barber to good use during the lockdowns. Once permission was gained from the boys' parents and social workers, Craig began cutting the hair of the boys who reside at Pant Glas as part of his shift if they requested it, helping to raise their self-esteem.

Craig said he was delighted to be put forward for an award initially and excited by being named as a finalist but it was as much for the team at the care home as it was him.

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He said the boys passionately care about their looks and being unable to get their haircut was having a profound effect on them.

"People often open up to their barbers and hair stylists in a way they don't with other people and I was able to get an insight into their feelings at a particular time, what they were worried about and so on. It's always good to get things off your chest and I could just talk with them and try and help," he said.

Claire Howard, deputy manager at Pant Glas Uchaf, who nominated Craig, said his haircuts proved to be just what the boys wanted.

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"This proved highly beneficial to the young people as it has given them a sense of self-worth and identity that may have been lacking otherwise. It seems like a small thing, a haircut but feeling like you look smart and how you want to look has a big impact of mental health helping the boys feel positive about themselves.

"There is a very simple difference that Craig has made to the home that has had a big impact on the mental health and well-being of the young people over the past year, haircuts! During lockdown I think the lack of access to hairdressers or barbers has been a difficulty that most people have faced, with varying degrees of trauma.

“This has been a very trying time for staff and Craig’s good humour has helped lift spirits, which should not be underestimated in a profession such as residential care, where the mental health of the staff needs to be strong to aid that of the young people we care for."

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Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the aim of the Wales Care Awards was to recognise the unstinting and remarkable dedication of unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.

He said: “The social care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation – these are people who go the extra mile for others.

“Unfortunately, it has taken a global pandemic for many other people to realise how important and how significant our social care workforce is.

“I congratulate all the individuals who have shown outstanding dedication and professionalism. Every one of them should be proud of their achievement.”

The awards ceremony will take place in Cardiff on Friday, October 21.