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April 16th 2007 Fingers crossed as employers wait for Awards The names of care workers who have been nominated for Somerset’s first Care Awards will be revealed at Care Focus Somerset’s annual conference at Dillington House, Ilminster next Wednesday (April 25). The awards, sponsored by a variety of local organisations (listed below), including the Royal Bank of Scotland who are the main event sponsors, have been introduced this year to recognise outstanding performance by employees. There have been 220 entries, and the nominees named at the conference will progress to a gala dinner and awards ceremony on Saturday June 30 at Taunton School. Care Focus Business Development Manager Claire Waddon said: “We are very excited at the level of support shown for this initiative in its first year. The awards are helping to unite the sector by recognising and acknowledging the high standards achieved in social care, and I’m sure they will also demonstrate career benefits to people of all ages and backgrounds.” The theme of the conference is ‘Changing Workplace – Changing Workforce’. Employers will hear 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, will present employers with a scenario that identifies alternative methods of support and care for the future. Delegates will also hear about a new type of care worker, spanning health and social care. The theme will continue as Mel Lock, Service Manager at Somerset County Council, outlines ‘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 will deal 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, will be 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 is to be announced at the conference by SCILS Training Manager Eve Harper. Care Focus Chairman Andrew Larpent said: “The 2007 conference promises to be a fantastic event. There is so much useful and practical guidance on changes to the workplace and workforce, and then we have the added interest of the Care Awards nominations. “The care sector in Somerset is responding magnificently to the challenge of change, and the conference is designed to support them in their efforts to deliver the highest possible standards of care for people of all ages.” Royal Bank of Scotland Event Sponsor Care Aware Sponsor of Outstanding Care and Support Worker Award Centre of Sponsor of Tim Catley Day Award Somerset Sponsor of Outstanding Care and Support Worker Registered Sponsor of Outstanding Care and Support Worker Acacia Training Sponsor of Outstanding Volunteer Foot Anstey Sponsor of Outstanding Achievement Thirdforce Sponsor of Learning Award Children’s Sponsor of Outstanding Team Leader ENDS Notes to Editors |
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