Livewell Southwest CIC recognised the excellence and dedication of colleagues at its annual People Awards celebration.
Categories included Unsung Hero, Extra Mile and Leadership, as well as awards for clinical and non-clinical teams, and nominations were made by staff and people who use our services.
A panel including the senior leadership and staff from across the organisation agonised over more than 260 entries before selecting the winners. Central to the judging criteria was how the nominees reflected Livewell’s values of respect, kindness, ambition, responsibility and inclusive.
Angie Saxby, associate director of HR and engagement, headed the organising team and said: “The People Awards were amazing this year and we would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees who were recognised for the work that they do for the people we care for.
“We had more nominations than ever before, which is testament to how much our staff value and respect one another.
“Choosing the winners wasn’t an easy task – in fact it was impossible to choose a single winner for Team of the Year so we had three – but each and every person nominated should feel really proud of the impact they are clearly making on the people they support and their colleagues.”
And the winners were …
Unsung Hero (clinical): Linda Trebilcock, Deputy Head of Children, Young People and Family Service
The nomination said: “Linda is a supportive, empathetic and effective leader. She has been steadfast in her support of the Family Nurse Partnership service and understands the individual components that are needed to make the organisation successful. Linda is forward-thinking and looks at how she can develop services to best meet demand.”
Unsung Hero (non-clinical): Ginnie Stiff, Retention & Attraction Lead
The nomination said: “Ginnie has been the face of recruitment for many years and is exceptional in the way she carries out her role. She is friendly, professional and always does the job to a really high standard. She ensures that all staff coming to Livewell are welcomed and supported into their roles. Ginnie embodies our values and always goes the extra mile to ensure staff get an excellent service.”
Extra Mile (clinical): Mike Bates, support time recovery worker, at Glenbourne mental health inpatient unit
The nomination said: “Mike’s commitment to providing person centred care to the patients extends far beyond the expected levels of the nurses here on the ward. He embodies the true values of nursing, through his unerring adherence to providing the very best care and provisions of extra-curricular activities to the patients, which, without his passion, compassion and willingness to go the extra mile, would otherwise not have access to.”
Extra Mile (non-clinical): Teresa Barrett, social worker
The nomination said: “As well as being a key part of the work at the Local Care Centre, Teresa was central to the intergenerational project, run over four weeks between Salisbury Road School and the rehab wards and teams. Teresa is nominated in the National Social Worker of the Year awards and goes above and beyond for the people she cares for. Teresa is also part of a community children’s group run by a local Plymstock church and regularly supports the Plymouth.
Compassion and Respect: Tavistock Community Rehabilitation Team
The nomination said: “Tavistock intermediate care and care home team has gone above and beyond to help support and provide rehabilitation for two nursing home residents to progress and return to their own homes, promoting independence and enhancing their quality of life. The team works in partnership with social services, patients and carers to include maintenance and back-up plans in their personalised, individualised care plan to enable people to live independent, healthy lives at home as long as possible.”
Leadership: Jo Beniston, District Nurse Manager for West Devon
The nomination said: “Jo leads on improvement work which focuses on bringing teams across the locality together and encourages partnership working with other organisations. Jo is person-focused, for her patients, the staff she directly manages and the colleagues that she has been instrumental in bringing together across health and social care, care homes and the voluntary sector.”
Employee of the Year: Di Dymond, Named Nurse for Looked after Children
The nomination said: “Over time, the number of children in local authority care has risen dramatically and their needs have become more complex. Di is a passionate advocate for these children and young people, who have increasing vulnerability when they come into care and are often not able to be housed in secure foster care. For some of these children and young people, Di has been the one consistent person in their lives.”
People’s Choice: Thornberry Prosthetics Team
The nomination said: “The team is kind, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, experienced and made me feel part of a big family. They are patient and understanding and are willing to go the extra mile to aid your rehab transition into the community. Everyone works together to form a fantastic team and they have made my recovery journey a smooth and positive one.”
Team of the Year (non-clinical): Mental Health Act Team,
The nomination said: “This non-clinical team is focussed on the needs of the people who use our services and provides accurate and timely guidance to clinical teams so they can carry out effective care. They are positive, approachable, friendly and always find the time to give advice on implementing the Mental Health Act within Livewell.”
Team of the Year (clinical):
Family Nurse Partnership
Greenfields recovery unit for women with severe and long-standing mental health problems
Plym Neuro-Rehab Unit
The nominations said: “The Family Nurses are an inspiration who thrive on a challenge. They go the extra mile for their clients because they really do care about them.”
“The Greenfields team members all bring something different to support the ladies they care for. The team are positive and proud of their service, and quite rightly so.”
“Plym Neuro has a positive culture and highly skilled staff who demonstrate exceptional teamwork, passion and kindness.”