Support Worker Suzanne Morys, who helped a woman turn her life around, was presented with the Sirona Award for Excellence 2014 at a glittering ceremony at Bath’s Assembly Rooms.
Suzanne, 52, from the Work Development Team that supports people with Mental Health problems based at the Hollies in Midsomer Norton, was also awarded the ‘I think they deserve it’ award along with Sally-Anne Bauer, community matron for Kingswood, near Bristol.
Suzanne’s nomination was from a lady who had long standing mental health problems and in her words ‘struggled with life and had virtually given up’.
After Suzanne’s intervention she was in paid employment, is a carer for relatives and receives support from Suzanne to gain qualifications.
Sally-Anne was nominated by a recently bereaved widow who told how her husband’s last wish was to be able to remain at home for as long as possible.
In announcing the overall winner as Suzanne, chief executive Janet Rowse, said: “Sirona is about hope, joy and compassion but we are also about the practical support that gives people control over their lives which is why this year’s overall award for excellence goes to Suzanne.”
Suzanne, a grandmother-of-one from Peasedown St John, said: “I was flabbergasted and humbled to receive the awards. The service user told me she had nominated me but you don’t expect to win.
“I love my work; it’s a really unique privileged process and it’s lovely how you see the transformation in people’s lives.”
Sirona’s ethos is for staff to care for people as if they were a member of their own family and Janet also presented the award for Taking It Personally.
She said: “Our winners in this category are truly a remarkable team of individuals and when I talk about providing care as we would want to receive it ourselves or for those we love then this is exactly what I mean.”
The team at Kelston Rise – an area within Cleeve Court, Bath, which cares for those with dementia – won the award after supporting a lady whose mother needed end of life care.
Janet said: “In her nomination she talks of how her mother was cared for with respect, dignity, empathy, sensitivity and infinite patience, as were all the residents there.
“Care was personalised for each individual, consistent and caring – and fun. When her mother required end of life care, she desperately wanted to stay at the home and the staff worked with her to make this happen….My mother could not have received better care anywhere in the country.
“I will never forget their kindness and care to us all.”
Chairman Simon Knighton’s award for innovation was given for the development of the Sirona Model which now drives the way Sirona provides its services to ensure that the individual is at the centre of everything the not-for-profit social enterprise does.
Janet Rowse, Chief Executive was asked to accept the Award, which was sponsored by the West of England Academic Health Science Network, on behalf of the whole organisation.
He said: “The Model has already impacted hugely on the way we now deliver our community services and the roles of our Community Matrons and our new Active Ageing service, introduced as a consequence of this model, have already generated much praise and thanks from service users and practitioners alike.”
A new award for 2014 was the prize for outstanding contribution to the company which was given to the team who ensured a smooth process for staff and service users transferring to Sirona from South Gloucestershire Community Health Services when
Sirona was awarded the contract to provide community health services in the district from 1st April.
The judges for the awards were Simon, Janet and Lynne Fernquest, editor of the Bath Chronicle and Somerset Guardian who also presented the I think they deserve it awards.
The ceremony took place at Bath’s Assembly Rooms with compere BBC Points West and Radio Bristol’s Ali Vowles.
Awards:
Team of the Year: Cadbury Heath District Nursing Team/TB Response Team, Bath. Highly Commended: Reception Services and Facilities.
Volunteer of the Year: Nigel Dewey Highly Commended Judith Lynn.
Colleague of the Year Karen Gleave, from the learning and development team; Pauline Chinnick, Matron at Yate Minor Injuries Unit, Janet Bilton, advanced nurse practioner at Paulton Memorial Hospital. Highly Commended: Lesley Brooker, assistant locality manager North East Somerset, Julie Elliott, assistant locality manager, Kingswood.
I Think They Deserve It Award: Suzanne Morys, Sally-Anne Bauer. Highly Commended: Jackie Mackenzie and Paula Byrne from the Lymphoema Service and Zhivka Petrova and Karolina Sytek, physiotherapist and occupational therapist at Thornbury.
Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Company 2014: The South Gloucestershire Community Health Service Transition Team.
Chief Executive’s Award for Taking It Personally: Kelston Rise Team. Highly Commended: Lisa Venn from the Active Ageing Team working in Keynsham and Chew Valley.
The Chairman’s Award for Innovation 2014: The Sirona Model. Highly Commended Fiona Cook, professional lead for physiotherapy.
Sirona Award for Excellence 2014: Suzanne Morys
