LCHS celebrates staff at awards ceremony
Posted on: 14th November 2023
Outstanding teams and individuals working in NHS community services in Lincolnshire have been recognised for their dedication at this year's Celebrating Success Awards.
Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) held its staff awards ceremony on Friday, 10 November.
LCHS is proud of its staff and volunteers, whose dedication and commitment to delivering outstanding care makes a huge difference in the communities it serves.
The organisation recognises and commends these achievements through the Celebrating Success Awards.
A record 205 entries were received for teams, individuals and volunteers from across Lincolnshire’s community health services for the 10 award categories.
The award categories are closely aligned to the values that were developed with LCHS staff, which are articulated through the LCHS Way: we listen, we care, we act and we improve.
Amongst the winners was Ashby Rehabilitation Unit, Speech and Language Therapy Team which won the Innovation Award.
After attending a webinar on using flavoured foam, the team implemented this to improve the experience of patients who are unable to eat and drink following brain injuries.
Patients can now have tastes of their favourite drinks whilst receiving swallow therapy in the hope of regaining their ability to swallow safely.
This has resulted in many positive experiences for patients, including someone who was nil by mouth after a severe brain injury. He was able to enjoy his favourite pina colada mocktail with his family to celebrate a very important milestone birthday!
Rebecca Ramsden at the Ashby Rehabilitation Unit said: “The flavoured foam is for patients who can’t swallow safely and would normally be nil by mouth. This could be for weeks or even months, so it’s nice for them to get a little taste of flavour, and it really makes a difference.
“We are really happy that our project has been recognised and the whole team was involved, from testing to implementing the flavoured foam.”
The Home Health Team won the Chair’s Award and was also a finalist in the Clinical Team of the Year Award.
This small team is dedicated to supporting just under 500 care home residents across 15 care homes and the staff responsible for their care in South Lincoln.
The Home Health Team has consistently delivered service improvements and high-quality responsive care. They push boundaries and support each other to try new initiatives. For example, producing care home information folders and offering one-to-one support for new care home managers.
Therapists from the Home Health Team have developed group sessions to enrich the lives of people with dementia. Residents attend groups that use music, baking, crafts and reminiscing to improve cognition and communication.
Care home residents now benefit from a personalised approach to optimise their health and wellbeing, thanks to this team of committed and compassionate staff.
Maria Matemadombo from The Home Health Team said: “We are thrilled to have won this award because it highlights all the work that is undertaken in care homes to benefit residents. It’s important for the staff and the residents that we support them.”
Volunteer of the Year was Mark Saunders who works with staff and patients in pulmonary rehabilitation. Mark has inspired and encouraged patients with his own experiences and has a real passion for helping people.
Mark has achieved over 250 hours of volunteering for LCHS.
He said: “I was very proud to receive this award. I am part of a great team at pulmonary rehabilitation, and they make me feel useful and wanted.
“The volunteering community is strong and welcoming, and I would recommend it to everyone.”
Malcolm Burch, Chair at LCHS, said: "What a privilege it has been to be part of the judging process, hear so many inspirational stories and then to meet so many of these amazing people on the night.
“At a time when the NHS in Lincolnshire is under such pressure many of our staff go above and beyond every day and I would like to congratulate all our finalists and all LCHS staff on how well they perform.
“This year's ceremony has shown how many teams, individuals and volunteers embody the LCHS Way and our values in their work – those values show the sort of caring and compassionate services we want to provide.
“Celebrating Success is a great opportunity for us to reflect and recognise some of those teams, individuals and volunteers who are making a real difference to our patients every day.
“Thank you to our sponsors and the staff who helped make it a truly inspiring and memorable occasion."
The 2023 winners are:
1. Patient Involvement and Experience Award
Frailty Virtual Ward
2. Inclusion, Equality and Diversity Award
Mo Bullen (Cardiac Rehabilitation)
3. Innovation Award
Ashby Rehabilitation Unit, Speech and Language Therapy Team
4. Leader Award
Hayley Parkin (Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care)
5. Clinical Unsung Hero Award
Rebecca Ramsden (Ashby Rehabilitation Unit, Speech and Language Therapy Team)
6. Non-Clinical Unsung Hero Award
Katy Barraclough (Human Resources)
7. Clinical Team of the Year Award
Clinical staff at The Butterfly Hospice Trust
8. Non-Clinical Team of the Year Award
Lincolnshire Health and Care Apprenticeship Centre
9. Volunteer of the Year Award
Mark Saunders (Pulmonary Rehabilitation)
10. People’s Award
Diana Banjo (Complex Needs Respiratory Service)
11. Chair’s Award
Home Health Team
To see the other winner's citations please see the LCHS website here.