Our Health Heroes Awards – 2019 nominations now open
Don’t miss your opportunity to nominate a Health Hero! Our Health Heroes, the national healthcare awards which celebrate individuals, teams and organisations within the healthcare and care and sectors, are returning for the fourth year and promise to be bigger and better than ever. Launched earlier this month at the annual UNISON Health Conference at Bournemouth International Centre, the Our Health Heroes awards will be delivered by Skills for Health and the National Skills Academy for Health with support from headline sponsor Health Education England. Nominations in eight categories, which recognise the contribution of healthcare workers from a range of facilities across the UK, including those working in the NHS, are being sought from healthcare professionals and members of the public via the dedicated Our Health Heroes webpage. During his presentation to UNISON members at the launch, Adam Causon, Executive Director of Skills for Health, said: “As patients, we remember the doctor who operated on us or the nurse who cared for us, but how many of us thank the healthcare assistants who were there to support us, the cleaner who kept the ward clean and safe, or the porter that kept our spirits up as they moved us round the hospital? “Many of you will know that, behind the scenes, there are thousands of people who work tirelessly to keep the system running smoothly, day after day. Without these people, the NHS couldn’t survive. These are the unsung heroes of the UK’s healthcare sector. “Our Health Heroes rewards those teams and individuals who go above and beyond their usual remit to deliver high-quality care to their patients and support to one another or their teams. If that sounds like someone you know, please make a nomination.” Since its creation in 2016, Our Health Heroes has recognised more than 90 regional and national winners from all four corners of the UK for their dedication to the care and well-being of patients, colleagues and other staff members. Thanks to the ongoing support of headline sponsor Health Education England and category sponsor UNISON, the awards have grown again for the fourth year and will now include the Outstanding Contribution Award and Learning and Development Project of the Year Award. The Apprentice; Workforce Planning Team; Integrated Team; and Clinical Support and Operational Services Support Workers of the Year categories will all return as usual. Healthcare staff from across the UK can be nominated by line managers and colleagues or members of the public via a simple form on the Skills for Health website. Entries will be shortlisted and regional winners and finalists will be chosen either by public vote or by an expert panel, before the winners are announced at the awards ceremony in November. Laura Roberts, Health Education England Director of Skills Development and Participation, said: “Apprentices together with all clinical and non-clinical support workers are a vital part of the healthcare workforce, which is why we are delighted to sponsor the Our Health Heroes again. “We are passionately committed to ensuring that we have a workforce which reflects the community it serves. “With a focus on diversity, inclusion and widening participation from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups, our Talent for Care framework supports employers with their workforce supply through programmes such as school’s engagement, volunteering, work experience, pre-employment activity, apprenticeships and access to higher education and registered professions. “Apprenticeships are a key priority for us and we continue to work with employers, government bodies and trade unions to continue the progression of this important agenda in the NHS.” The deadline for nominating someone for the awards is midnight on Saturday 29th June and the ceremony will take place on Wednesday 20th November 2019 at London’s Science Museum. To make a nomination visit www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/ohh
Encore Care Homes continues to invest in its team
Five team members from Great Oaks care home in Bournemouth, have completed the ‘Be an Effective Leader’ programme. Great Oaks is managed by Encore Care Homes, which invests significantly in the personal development of its staff and presents them with regular training opportunities throughout the year. The ‘Be an Effective Leader’ programme was launched to provide staff with the skills and tools required to manage a team successfully. The ‘Be an Effective Leader’ course is carried out over a six-month period and consists of five one-day workshops and five half-day workshops. These workshops cover a range of topics including managing teams through communication, time management and how to resolve under performance. In-between training, each team member is asked to demonstrate what they have learnt so far in the daily working environment. At the end of the programme, all participants create a presentation to share with the rest of the team, which details what they have learnt and how they have developed through the training. Sarah Sims (administrator), Lisa Mosses (head housekeeper), Sue McManus (registered nurse), Patrick Fensterseifer (head chef) and Tony Hill (senior healthcare assistant) are the first to complete the training at Great Oaks. Luke Wiltshire, training manager for Encore, said: “It has been a pleasure facilitating the group’s learning and seeing people grow session-by-session. Our workshops cover a range of topics but heavily focus on learners exploring their leadership style and recognising how to adapt to different situations. Leadership is not a simple concept that can be taught in one training session. Our in-depth programme means that learners have a chance to implement what they have learnt in the classroom, into their role in our care homes, and then come back and evaluate their learning in a group setting. “At Encore, we are passionate about learning and development and we hope by offering regular training opportunities such as this initiative, we will build a well led and inspired workforce for the future.” Great Oaks is the latest addition of an established family of care homes managed by Encore Care Homes, with two other care homes in Dorset and Hampshire. The 80-bed care home is fitted with state-of-the-art facilities, which are designed to enable staff to provide the highest standard of 24 hour, personalised care and ensure residents are comfortable and happy in their surroundings. Please visit www.greatoaksbournemouth.co.uk for more information or call 01202 087444.
Bluebird Care offices in the South and East London area celebrate big win
Bluebird Care offices in the South and East London area celebrate big win at National Bluebird Care Conference Anoop Sekhon, Director of Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping has won one of the top awards at this year’s Bluebird Care Conference. The Spirit Award is presented to the Franchise Owner who it’s felt best captures and demonstrates the ethos of the Bluebird Care business and Anoop was seen to deliver best in this area out all Bluebird Care offices across the country. On the night, all the awards were presented by Paul and Lisa Tarsey, Bluebird Care’s Co-founders. Bluebird Care held their annual conference at the De Vere Orchard Hotel in Nottingham on Thursday 27th September. They invited all franchise owners, team members and other senior members of the Bluebird Care team to join sector leading experts, and a number of exhibitors at the conference. The event was centred around a Pride, Passion, Progress theme. The event also had three well known speakers from the sector: Sonya Hinds, Chief Administrative Officer at Interim HealthCare Inc, who spoke about the keys to building and maintaining an engaged workforce. Sue Powell, a Career Coach, who spoke about the Act of Leadership, an important topic for those who attended the conference. Colin Angel, Policy Director of United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), who spoke about home care services and updated the guests on current issues within the sector. Also speaking at the event were Bluebird Care Chairman and Co-founder, Paul Tarsey, Bluebird Care’s Director of Operations, Yvonne Hignell, and Bluebird Care’s Director of Finance, Julie Marshall. Anoop Sekhon, Director of Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping, said: “Here at Bluebird Care Greenwich and Bluebird Care Docklands, Stratford and Wapping, we are very excited to have received the Spirit Award from Bluebird Care. “The Spirit award is presented to the office who best demonstrated the ethos and living values of the Bluebird Care business . The award highlighted the fact that both offices are going above and beyond in our day to day business. This award has meant so much to the offices and it’s nice to get recognised for all the hard work our teams do. “Thank you to everyone at Bluebird Care, from head office to all the care assistants across the country. Everyone’s hard work is so important and is hugely appreciated, by our customers, who are always at the centre of everything we do.” www.bluebirdcare.co.uk
