Plymouth care worker celebration event a success
An event held to celebrate the role of care workers in Plymouth - the first of its kind in the city organised by Plymouth City Council - was a great success.
Around 175 people attended the 'Celebrating Excellence in Care: Plymouth 2016' event, which was held at the New Continental Hotel on Saturday 14 May. The event was held to showcase and best practice across care in Plymouth, from nursing homes and care homes to those who provide domiciliary care in people’s homes.
Representatives from care homes across the city attended the event, and there was also a raffle with proceeds going towards the Children’s Happy Hospital Fund at Derriford Hospital, which raised £855. The Children’s Happy Hospital Fund supports the children and young people’s health directorate and aims to make a difference for all young patients, their families and carers both in hospital and at home.
Awards were handed out to care workers by a range of local dignitaries, including Lord Mayor Councillor Dr John Mahony, Councillor Ian Tuffin, and Councillor Linda Bowyer. Tracey Lee, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council, and Carole Burgoyne, Strategic Director for People for the Council, opened the event, and the MC was former local radio presenter and 'News Mistress' (and now Corporate Communications Officer for the Council), Michaela Richards. Music for the event was provided by singer Anna-Marie Waite. The event was organised by members of the Council's Quality Assurance Improvement Team Caroline Paterson, Hannah Shaw, Sarah Ghent, Bridget Buckley & Andy Rowing-Parker.
Members of the public were able to nominate a care worker via the People's Choice category. The winner was chosen by an independent panel and nominations from the publc were sent to the Council via email, and through the Council's corporate facebook and twitter accounts.
Carole Burgoyne, Strategic Director for People for Plymouth City Council, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of our first ever event to celebrate excellence in care in Plymouth -and we were overwhelmed with the interest shown by the local care sector and the public's nominations. We would definitely like to make this an annual event.
“We were particularly delighted to host the event at the New Continental Hotel, which is Plymouth’s first ‘dementia-friendly’ hotel and a member of the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance, and we were also delighted with the success of the raffle for the Children’s Happy Hospital Fund at Derriford Hospital.
“The event aimed to celebrate and recognise all the fantastic work taking place across the care sector in Plymouth, from residential and nursing care homes to domiciliary care agencies. We also shared stories of excellence and innovation from Plymouth residents at the event."
Sue Rodgers, Play Specialist Team Leader at Derriford Hospital, said: “Children’s Happy Hospital Fund would like to thank Plymouth City Council for their support whilst celebrating excellence in care over the last year.
“Our aim is to enhance the facilities on the children’s wards and provide a child friendly environment for all that have to stay on level 12. It is fantastic that our charity has been chosen to benefit from the funds raised through the raffle and I would like to thank everyone who supported this event.”
The winners of the categories were as follows:
1. People's Choice - this was the care worker voted for by members of the public.
Winner for Domiciliary Care: Ross McGuffog
Winner for Care Homes: Sheree Haswell
2. Dementia Quality Mark - the DQM goes to care homes who have building blocks and continuous improvement plans in place to provide a good quality dementia service.
Winners: Ashleigh Manor, Bethany Christian, Camellia House, Cann House, Charlton House, Chatsworth Residential Home, Dewi-Sant, Drake Nursing Home, Durnsford Lodge, Freshfields Nursing Home, Furzehatt Home, Greenacres Care Centre, Hamilton House, Hartley Park, Lelant Nursing Home, Maddalane Care Home, Manor Court, Manor House, Mayflower House, Michaelstowe, Parkwood House, Patricia Venton, Plymbridge House, St Annes Home, Sunnymeade, The Oasis, The Old School House, Thorn Park, Trenant House, Underhill House, Vale Lodge, Warwick Park and Waypoints Plymouth
3. Domiciliary Care - this award recognises the work of the 9 block providers who work in people's homes and whose contracts reflect key principles such as the Living Wage, paid travel time, minimum 30 minute visits and guaranteed hour contracts.
Winners: 1st Call Homecare, Caremark Plymouth, Gemcare, Guinness Care & Support, Mears Care, MiHomecare, Nurse Plus, Self Direct Support, and The Human Support Group.
4. Leadership Programme for Registered Managers - the aim of the programme is to ebed the lessons from the National Skills Academy's Leadership Quality Framework and to provide individuals and organisations with the awareness and understanding of leadership in social care.
Winners: Michelle Amesbury, Fran Brian, Sue Davidson, Andre Drury, Mandy Fenn, Mimi Florea, Marie-Claire Foale, Emma Hughes, Annie Magno, Allison Nicholls, Lysa Orr, Mark Peard, Sally Philipson, Allina Reeve, Andy Rochester, Lisa Runnalls, Helen Sinclair, Katie Spring, Gail Stevens, Theresa Oldfield and Jane Slater
5. Care Quality Commission recognition - these awards go to those services who have achieved an overall rating of 'outstanding' or received 'outstanding' ratings in any of the 5 key areas which are inspected by the Care Quality Commission.
Winners: Douglas House, Hartley Park, St Vincents, Vale Lodge, Bethany Christian, Hardwick View
6. Innovation and good practice in community links - this award is for care providers that have shown innovative ways to build and maintain links with the community.
Winner for Domiciliary Care: Nurse Plus
Winner for Care Homes: Selkirk House
7. Innovation and good practice in health and wellbeing - this award is for care providers who have shown innovative ways to improve and promote people's health and wellbeing, working alongside health and social care professionals.
Winner for Domiciliary Care: Prestige Nursing
Winner for Care Homes: Chatsworth House
8. Innovation and good practice in quality assurance - this award is for care providers that show innovative ways to develop a good quality assurance framework that improves services for service users.
Winner for Domiciliary Care: Caremark Plymouth
Winner for Care Homes: South View Care Home
9. Innovation and good practice in service user involvement - this award is for care providers who have used innovative ways to ensure service users are involved in developing the service.
Winner for Domiciliary Care: St Luke’s Care
Winner for Care Homes: Vale Lodge
