PRESS RELEASE

July 1st 2007

THE SOCIAL CARE SECTOR CHEERS THE COUNTY’S FIRST AWARD WINNERS

Somerset’s care industry gathered at Taunton School on Saturday to cheer and celebrate the outstanding performance of 15 care workers in the county’s inaugural Social Care Awards.

With more than 220 people nominated by their employers, competition was fierce and the atmosphere tense as winners’ names emerged from sealed envelopes.

The awards were organised by Care Focus Somerset with sponsorship from the Royal Bank of Scotland, Somerset & Dorset Centre of Vocational Excellence, Registered Care Providers Association, Care Aware, VisionCall, Somerset County Council, Acacia Training, Foot Anstey, Thirdforce, DR Jones Builders, Children’s Workforce Development Council, Hudson & Hughes, Premier Trophies, Party On, Rhona Gilmour and Andy Jones of Shooting Pixels photography.

The biggest cheer and a standing ovation was reserved for 92-year-old Bill Philipson of Taunton.

His wife Glenys had worked for over 40 years at the Mountbatten Nursing Home in Taunton. She had been nominated for an Outstanding Achievement Award and had been shortlisted in the category.

Glenys, who worked at the home until earlier this year, died in April aged 87 – just days before the finalists were announced.

Care Focus, organisers of the awards, decided to pay tribute to Glenys by making an extra one-off award for Outstanding Commitment, and Bill was invited to the gala evening at Taunton School to receive the award.

BBC Points West presenter Chris Vacher, who compered the evening, said: “It is hard to imagine any greater commitment than Glenys gave to the Mountbatten Nursing Home.”

Later Bill was first on to the dance floor with Claire Waddon, Business Development Manager of Care Focus.

The awards, showing winners, employers and locations, are listed below. Six are from Taunton, two each from Yeovil and Bridgwater, and one each from Crewkerne, Shepton Mallet, Ilminster, Frome and Williton.

Outstanding Manager
                       
For a registered manager from any type of social care provision in Somerset.

Sponsored by the Registered Care Providers’ Association

Winner:             Gaynor Green               Care South                            Crewkerne

Gaynor joined a building firm when she was 16 and gained a City and guilds in Bricklaying. She had to rethink her career after five years when her firm closed, and she moved into care.
“I have been working in care for 13 years,” she said. “What I enjoy the most about my role is that I am given the opportunity to develop new services.”

Outstanding Supervisor/Team Leader

For an individual who contributes to the development and effectiveness of work teams
                    
Sponsored by the Children’s Workforce and Development Council

Winner:             Rowena White                Way Ahead                           Taunton

Rowena has worked in social care for over 10 years and really enjoys her role. She said: “I like to make a difference to my service users and enjoy problem solving and ensuring they get a really good service. However you cannot be a good Team Leader without a good team, and support from the management within the company.”

Tim Catley-Day Award

In memory of the late managing director of Candlelight Home Care services who died in 2004. The award is for domiciliary care workers delivering direct care and support in Somerset

Sponsored by Somerset and Dorset Social Care Centre of Vocational Excellence

Winner:                         Julie Curtis        Mendip Housing             Shepton Mallet

Julie has worked in social care for 18 years. She said: “I enjoy very much working with the disabled and the elderly tenants on my scheme.  One of the aspects of the job I do enjoy is the fact I go home at the end of the day knowing I have made a difference, however small, to someone’s life.”

Learning Award

For an individual from any type of social care setting who has achieved and demonstrated excellence through learning at any level. Measured in terms of personal achievement, not just learning level

Sponsored by Thirdforce

Winner:             Sheila Ruxton              New Horizon Centre              Ilminster          

Sheila has worked in the social care sector for almost three years. She said: “I have enjoyed watching the growth and development of young people in preparing them for independence.
The role of carer is worthwhile. What you feel may make a little difference to a young person actually makes a big difference to them.”

Outstanding Achievement Award

For any social care staff from any type of provision in Somerset, and the achievement can be from any area within the workplace.

Sponsored by Foot Anstey

Winner:             Alison Short                Tyndale Nursing Home                Yeovil

Alison said: “I came to Tyndale in 2001 and within three months became Catering Manager. I decided that we should start raising funds to purchase our own minibus because of the difficulty in booking transport for outings, so in June 2004 the TLC Community Minibus Fund was launched, with me being elected Chairperson for the committee. The rewards are too numerous to mention but the biggest reward of all was finally purchasing our minibus in June 2006.”
                       

Outstanding Commitment Award

Sponsored by Care Focus Somerset

Specially created to recognise the service and commitment of Glenys Philipson who worked for over 40 years at the Mountbatten Nursing Home in Taunton. Glenys continued at the home until earlier this year, and died in April aged 87.
She had been nominated by her employer in the Outstanding Achievement category and had been shortlisted.
Her husband Bill (92) was a special guest at the event and received the Outstanding Commitment Award

Outstanding Support Staff

For all staff not directly involved in delivering care, and given to someone who provides a positive impact within their role
                       
Sponsored by DR Jones

Winner:             Judy Johnson                        Somerset Care                          Frome

Judy has worked as a support worker at Critchill Court for almost eight years, dividing her time between cleaning, laundry and the kitchen. Judy also comes in as a volunteer to run the residents’ shop; this allows residents to buy things themselves without having to rely on others. Judy said: “I love working at Critchill Court and hope that I will be here until I retire. I can’t imagine working anywhere else as it is like a family here.”

Outstanding Volunteer

For a voluntary role in any type of social care setting in Somerset

Sponsored by Acacia Training
                       
Winner: Pamela Griffiths             Somerset Assoc for the Blind     Taunton
           
Pam is a caring, generous and remarkable lady.  Until 2002 she was a foster mother for children with physical and learning difficulties.  After the death of her husband in 2002 Pam joined Somerset Association for the Blind as a volunteer. She is always willing to “go the extra mile”. She is utterly reliable and willingly gives her time and energy helping others, putting their needs before her own.

Outstanding Care and Support Worker

Six awards for people delivering direct care and support from any part of the social care sector in Somerset

Sponsored by Registered Care Providers’ Association, Children’s Workforce and Development Council, Somerset County Council – Community Directorate,
Visioncall, Care Aware,

Winner:Edwin Jones              Somerset Care - Williton

After retiring from 30 years on Ambulance Services Edwin started at Croft House where he is the handyman/gardener. He said: “I also do care relief as and when required. I really enjoy my work whichever role I am doing. Both are about caring for your clients.”

 Winner:Michelle Stratford            British Institute for Brain                 Bridgwater
                                                            Injured Children

Michelle has worked at BIBIC as a developmental therapist for the past three years after working in a care home for elderly persons with dementia. She said: “As a BIBIC therapist I meet many extraordinary children with a wide-range of difficulties. The role is both challenging and rewarding.” 

Winner:             Bernie Farr                  County Nursing                         Taunton
Bernie has worked as a healthcare assistant for over 20 years in care homes, hospitals and domiciliary care. She says: “Caring for people and their families gives such great rewards. I get such job satisfaction from supporting them and making a difference to their quality of life – I couldn’t do anything else.”

Winner:             Stuart Buzza               Way Ahead                           Taunton

Stuart has worked in social care for over 20 years and been with Way Ahead for over 10 years. He said: “I really enjoy looking after people and taking the pressure off their family members. I have made lots of good friends and had a lot of support from our managers. Care work is a tremendous job. You get loads of job satisfaction when you look after someone who finds it difficult to do the everyday things we all take for granted, and to be able to support their family to keep them at home.”
                       
Winner:             Louvaine Faulkner            Kylemore Care                           Yeovil

Louvaine has been working in social care for six years. She said: “I didn’t realise at first how much I would enjoy this work. The job is so rewarding and it’s nice to know that what I’m doing is making people’s days brighter and happier. I have met so many lovely caring people; it feels good to know I am making a difference.”

Winner:             Elizabeth Garret            Brunelcare                                Bridgwater

Elizabeth has been a care and support worker with Brunelcare for 11 years.  She said: “All of my clients are special in their own way and I always endeavour to anticipate their needs and aim to give them 100 per cent. Brunelcare have given me the opportunity through various courses to achieve an excellent standard of service for my clients. Overall I achieve great satisfaction in my job.”

Ted Gully Award

Sponsored by Skills for Care South West

Skills for Care South West acts as brokers for funding workforce development and training, and also develops partnerships for social care workforce development in the south west.

Winner:             Jan Bird                        Little Oaks                            Taunton

Jan started work at Sandhill Park Hospital in her early twenties. She said: “I have worked in all areas of care and during this time have seen many changes. In early 2006 I was made redundant, so thought it would be good to retire, but after a month became bored. I applied and was accepted as assistant manager at Little Oaks, and in November 2006 I became the registered manager. The best part of my job is knowing I have an active part in helping to make our service users’ lives productive and happy.

ENDS