On Friday 11th November the National Railway Museum, York provided a spectacular backdrop for the finals of this the fourth Great Yorkshire and Humberside Care Awards, where the twenty-two category winners were announced.
The Great Yorkshire and Humberside Care Awards, who’s principal sponsor is h.e.t. software are supported by the Department of Health. The awards are part of the Great British Care Awards, a series of regional awards which celebrates excellence in social care and pay tribute to those who work in the sector throughout England. The awards are all inclusive, bringing together the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors, as well as unpaid carers; promoting joint working.
The Great Yorkshire and Humberside Care Awards have received nominations and support from all corners of the sector. Sector support includes the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the National Skills Academy for Social Care, Skills for Care, Ceretas and the English Community Care Association. Local Authority support and commercial organisations are also supporting the awards. Care Talk magazine is the media partner.
There were a total of twenty-two award categories available for nomination, which represent all areas of the care sector,whether it be older people or specialist services and from frontline staff such as care workers and care managers to people who have made an impact in other ways such as training, specialist care in areas such as dementia and innovation.
Nominations came in from all corners of the sector and the region and successful candidates invited for interview for infront of a panel of sector experts. Thegala award evening started in style with a champagne reception, followed by a superb gourmet dinner and the awards presentation with Jenny Eclair entertainment from all girl group electric string quartet Asteria and dancing into the night.
Winners from the awards will be invited to attend the national finals for either the home care or care home sector which will take place in May and June 2012 at a prestigious venue in London.
The awards support a chosen charity, The Care Professionals Benevolent Fund is the registered charity for the Care Sector and are here to support current, former and retired care professionals, by providing assistance to relieve financial hardship or sickness.
Lisa Carr, Director of the Great British Care Awards said,
“We are delighted to be staging the Great Yorkshire and Humberside Care Awards for the fourth time. The care awards are going from strength to strength with this year’s regional events. The support from sector partners has been overwhelming and the quality and sheer nominations has been astounding.
These awards recognise and pay tribute to the efforts and dedication of all those who work tirelessly to ensure that so many people are able to live independent lives in their own home. They are the perfect showcase to reflect on best practice in the social care sector. A sector where people truly dedicate themselves to their work and take pride in their achievements.
The people of the Yorkshire and Humberside are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated people caring for the vulnerable and elderly members of their communities. Congratulations to everyone this evening – everyone here is a winner!”
The winners of the Great Yorkshire and Humberside Care Awards, together with the judges comments are detailed below:
The Care Employer Award More Than 250 employees
Andrea jetten & Yvonne Tomlinson
Domus Healthcare, Escrick, York
Whilst the efforts of all candidates were admirable, the judges were particularly impressed with the winners’ sincere desire to include and involve staff members at all levels within the organisation.
The Care Employer Award Less Than 250 Employees
Jo Guy & Andrew Brindley
AJ Community Care, Leeds
A visionary company with strong values, Jo and Andrew see clearly how new service affects their service users and the future challenges for social care.
The Care Home Worker
Jean Smith
St Cecilia’s Care Services, Scarborough
Jean impressed us with her passion, her warmth, her definition of dementia as a new chapter and her emphasis on the word care. Her insight into a person with dementia’s world, her respect for their home and literally going the extra mile make her a worthy winner.
The Home Care Worker Award
Gillian Cree
North Yorkshire Care, Knaresborough
Gillian has a wonderful sunny deposition. Demonstrating empathy and a clear understanding of the need to respects individual’s choice and control. Gillian believes she has the best job in the world and has been so lucky to meet so many interesting people.
The Care Newcomer Award
Julie Shann
Meadow Lodge Home Care Services, Sherburn in Elmet
The overall standard of finalists impressed the judges; however Julie demonstrated every value held dear. She recognised how training and development directly affected quality outcomes and her genuine passion for supporting people shone through.
The Care Home Registered Manager Award
Elaine Pollard
City of York Council, York
Elaine demonstrated dedication to empowering her staff to do a better job. She encourages anything that makes her residents smile. A recent idea was to move the main meal to tea time in response to residents needs.
The Home Care Registered Manager Award
Carol Whittaker
Direct Health UK, Sheffield
Carol made a big impression on the judges with her integrity, enthusiasm and experience. She converted the high professional standards necessary for the care industry and took positive steps to ensure her team met them.
The Care Home Nutrition and Hydration Award
Linda Smith
HICA Care Homes, Hull
Linda demonstrated a passion to maintain the health and wellbeing and independence of her service users, through a healthily and well balanced diet delivered in creative and imaginative ways.
The Dignity in Care Award
Deena Heavey
Anchor, Bradford
Deena feels honoured to be a Dignity Champion, influencing change and seeing it happen. She believes Dignity is at the heart of care and not just an ‘add-on’.
The Dementia Carer Award
Haley Cope
Ideal Care Homes, Leeds
You would not find a more enthusiastic exponent of caring for people with dementia. Hayley is totally committed to understanding the person living with their dementia.
The Care Team Award
Julie Wright, Julie Roper & Nicola Janney
Wright Care Home Solutions, Beverley
This teams’ approach to individual care is exceptional. It was very clear to the judges that this team was everything a team should be, they combined passion, enthusiasm and professionalism.
The Care Home Activity Organiser Award
Sue Turner
Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association, Harrogate
Sue has thought outside the box and has brought a wide range of activities on a limited budget. Her 16 hours per week is magnified by utilising her many contacts in a wide friendship group, using people’s history and past professions as a stimulus for activity.
The Home Care Co-ordinator
Anne Nelson
Direct Health, East Yorkshire
Providing a quality service is Anne’s focus in life. We were particularly impressed with her dedication and support to her work colleagues and her care worker team
The Ancillary Worker Award
Mick Wise
HICA Care Homes, Hull
The judges were humbled at how Mick overcame sever personal adversity and embraced this new opportunity to make an enormous impact. Enhancing and enriching the lives of residents, their relatives and his colleagues.
The Putting People First Award
Claire Smith & Marilyn Howlett
Bradford Council Compass/Shared Lives, Bradford
A truly innovative approach to providing support and activities that is developing real solutions by actually putting people first.
The Care Trainer Award
Ian Donaghy
Park Lane Health Care, North Yorkshire
Ian is an experienced and confident person who has approached the delivery of training in an innovative and inclusive way. Develops bespoke training courses for all areas of care.
The Care Innovator Award
Helen Clarke & John Duncan
East Riding Council, Goole
Helen and John were passionate about changing the status quo, because they believe without giving people access to flexible travel you cannot deliver personalisation.
Empowered people to avoid the stigma and restriction of the traditional white buses, to take control of their own travel plans. Using taxi’s and family transport has boosted their status in the community and quality of life. They hope to now role out and expand on this service using personal budgets.
The Frontline Leaders Award
Janette Walker
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust, Leeds
Janette impressed the judges with her confidence and dedication to raising awareness amongst the community groups that will provide future support to her residents when they leave Daniel Yorath House.
The Housing with Care
Janet Hayhurst, Jackie Hankinson & Gill Truah
Greenfield Court Care, Harrogate Neighbours, Harrogate
The energy and enthusiasm of the whole organisation was demonstrated by the team. They clearly put the tenants and their customers first when providing a completely holistic service to support people to stay in their own home. The everyone is an equal team approach aspires to keep improving, embracing change despite the difficulties of the enviroment they deliver housing with care in.
The Good Commissioner
Michelle Atkinson, Dawn Newsome & Mick Ward
Leeds Adult Social Care, Leeds
Michelle Atkinson and the team at Leeds City Council have developed original thiking and strong partnerships within neighbour hoods to engage users and providers with a sustainable, agreed, personalised path to care.
The Carer’s Award
Hazel Wheatley
Hazel is 72 and cares for her husband Bryan who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 24. She also took on the full time care of her father. Hazel is a long serving member of York Red Cross and a training assessor. She has been a volunteer with the MS Society for nearly 40 years and during that time always helping with fund raising.
Hazel is an excellent ambassador for the role of an unpaid carer!
The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Award
Lawrence Tomlinson
Ideal Care Homes, Leeds
Lawrence Tomlinson has demonstrated a life time’s commitment to social care. Inspired by his family’s care home Lawrence set out at a young age to provide quality care. Lawrence’s entrepreneurial skills lead him to grow his businesses whilst retaining quality and affordable care homes through vertical integration. Lawrence remains passionate about this ethos, motivating and retaining staff to ensure continuity and excellence.