April 30th 2007

Nominees revealed for first Somerset Social Care Awards

The names of care workers who have been nominated for the first Somerset Social Care Awards were revealed at Care Focus Somerset’s annual conference at Dillington House, Ilminster.

The awards have been introduced this year to recognise outstanding performance by employees. The nominees named at the conference will progress to a gala dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday June 30 at Taunton School, sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland together with 13 local organisations.

The first Somerset Social Care Awards have attracted a high level of support with 220 entries in eight categories. The 39 nominees are employed by 22 different care providers.

Six awards are to be given in the Outstanding Care and Support Worker category. This means there are 18 nominees in this category. Each of other seven categories has one award and three nominees.

Outstanding Care and Support Worker - six awards for people delivering direct care and support, sponsored by Care Aware, Visioncall, Somerset County Council Learning Disability Services, Somerset County Council Adult Services, Registered Care Providers’ Association and Children’s Workforce and Development Council

Janice Tustain - Care Assistant; Somerset Care, Chard.
Linda Clark - Care and Support Assistant; Way Ahead Community Services,Taunton.
Tom Oram - Care Assistant; Tyndale Nursing Home, Yeovil.
Sheila Baker - Care and Support Worker; Somerset Care at Home, Bridgwater.
Bernie Farr - Care Assistant; County Nursing, Taunton.
Dora Szomor - Care Assistant; Preston Park, Yeovil.
Pauline Adams - Care Support; Somerset Care, Bridgwater.
Michelle Stratford - Development Therapist; BIBIC, Bridgwater.
Hilary Knight - Care and Support Worker; Candlelight Homecare,Glastonbury.
Edwin Jones - Care Assistant; Somerset Care, Williton.
Lorraine Faulkner - Care and Support Worker; Kylemore Care, Yeovil.
Arleta Kaminska - Care Assistant; Somerset Care, Yeovil.
Claire Cole - Senior Health Care Assistant; Somerset Care, Wellington.
Stuart Buzza - Out of Hours Support Assistant; Way Ahead,Taunton.
Mary Hunter - Community Care Worker; Oakville Homecare, Frome.
Elizabeth Garret - Skill Plus Carer; Brunelcare, Bridgwater.
Eunice Bailey - Care Assistant; Tyndale Nursing Home, Yeovil.
Cosmina Voina - Health Care Assistant; Somerset Care, Yeovil.

Learning Award - sponsored by Thirdforce

Darren Waddon - Care Worker; Little Oaks,Taunton.
Vivienne Streeter - Director; BIBIC, Bridgwater.
Sheila Ruxton - Residential Care Worker; New Horizon Centre, Ilminster.         

Outstanding Volunteer - sponsored by Acacia Training

Tina Chiswell - Home Visiting Volunteer; Home Start West Somerset,Minehead.
Pamela Griffiths - Visitor for Visually Impaired; Somerset Assoc for the Blind, Taunton.
Alison Smith - Volunteer in Witness and Victim Services; Victim Support, Ilminster.
                                   

Outstanding Supervisor/Team Leader - sponsored by Children’s Workforce and Development Council

Tina Pengally - Senior Residential Care Worker; New Horizon Centre, Ilminster.
Rowena White - Team Leader; Way Ahead Community Services Ltd, Taunton.
Zoe Chilcott - Community Team Supervisor; Somerset Care at Home, Minehead.

Support Staff Award - sponsored by DR Jones

Judy Johnson - Care Support; Somerset Care, Frome.
Lisa Merrick - Staff Liaison Officer; New Horizon Centre, Ilminster.
Tom Davey - Handyman; Chelston Park Nursing & Residential Home, Wellington.
                                                                                   

Tim Catley-Day Award for all domiciliary care workers -  sponsored by Centre of Vocational Excellence

Maria Shorney - Care and Support Assistant; Way Ahead, Taunton.
Sue Green - Youth Club Leader; Barnardos Inclusion Project, Taunton.
Julie Curtis - Care Assistant; Mendip Housing, Shepton Mallet.

Outstanding Achievement - sponsored by Foot Anstey

Glynis Philipson - Care Assistant; Mountbatten Nursing Home, Taunton
Ann Williams - Proprietor; Fir Villa Residential Home, Yeovil.
Alison Short - Catering Manager and  Activities Committee Chair; Tyndale Nursing Home, Yeovil.
                                   

Outstanding Manager - sponsored by Registered Care Providers’ Association

Nicky Harris - Community Services Manager; Brunelcare, Burnham-on-Sea.
Gaynor Green - Dom Care Manager; Care South, Crewkerne.
Sarah Ambridge - Manager; Suddon House, Wincanton

The theme of the conference was ‘Changing Workplace – Changing Workforce’. Employers heard how changing legislation and social trends will impact on the way they deliver care throughout the county.

Clare Steel, Somerset County Council’s Head of Adult Social Care, presented employers with a scenario identifying alternative methods of support and care for the future.

Delegates also heard about a new type of care worker, spanning health and social care.

The theme continued as Mel Lock, Service Manager at Somerset County Council,  outlined ‘In Control’, a project being piloted by Somerset County Council that enables people to make their own decisions and to purchase the care and support they need.

A workshop dealt with the implications for care providers of the new Mental Capacity Act. The Act aims to protect people by providing clear guidelines for carers and professionals about who can make decisions in various situations. The legislation also enables people to plan ahead for a time when they may lack mental capacity.

The ‘Care Aware’ on-line service, aimed at improving public knowledge about the UK care system, was explained by its Chief Executive Robert Elliot.

Joint funding by Somerset County Council and Skills for Care South West is to enable all Somerset social care providers to free use of the resource website SCILS – the Social Care Information and Learning Service. This initiative was announced at the conference by SCILS Training Manager Eve Harper.

ENDS