26 March 2015 saw over 100 finalists from all over the country come together for the Judging day of the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards
The search to find the overall national winners of the second National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards is almost complete. Shortlisted finalists were invited to attend the judging day for the national finals, bringing together the crème de la crème of the social care workforce who support people with autism or a learning disability.
The awards which are being organised by Care Talk magazine in association with the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) and the Voluntary Organisation Disabilities Group (VODG) and will take place on 15th May 2015 at the prestigious ICC in Birmingham. The evening will consist of a drinks reception, a superb gourmet dinner followed by the awards presentation with host, compere and comic Steve Walls and surprise entertainment
Finalists at the judging day represented all areas of the sector, including inspirational people with a learning disability, charities, private care providers, residential and nursing homes and local authority adult social care departments – one thing they all had in common was they epitomised the unsung heroes of communities. Without such people quality, person centred support for people with a learning disability would fail.
The National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards are a celebration of excellence across the learning disability and autism sector. The purpose of the awards is to promote best practice and pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.
There are a total of seventeen awards categories available for nomination, representing all areas of the sector. From frontline staff such as support workers and managers, to people who have made an impact in other ways through training, breaking down barriers and housing.
On 15th May The National Learning Disabilities Show will take place at Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens. The Show, Living the Good Life, will be designed and delivered by people with a learning disability, providing a unique national platform to voice a unique perspective for the sector. The show will be the forerunner to the Awards, ensuring a full day and night of celebrations.
The show and awards have received support from across the social care sector, including Adult Directors of Social Services (ADASS), Care England, Department of Health, Skills for Care, The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Mencap
Ann Chivers, chief executive of BILD said,
“Judging at the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards was a great privilege for all of those working in the learning disabilities sector. Firstly to meet so many focussed and passionate people and secondly to see the fantastic supporters from a variety of settings and the innovative ways they are giving people with learning disabilities to live the life they chose.
“This is now the second year for the National Learning Disabilities awards and we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm. The quality of the finalists from across the country and throughout the sector is extremely high and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing an overall winner for each category. The awards offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the successes of individuals, teams and businesses throughout the UK – people who really do make a positive impact on the lives of people with a learning disability. We are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting and uplifting day and night of celebrations.”
Finalists for the National Learning Disabilities Awards are:
The Employer Award
Fitzroy
Jaffray Care Group
Jane Payne, The Richardson Partnership for Care
Andrew Lennox and Ceri Lennon, Eden Futures
Consensus Support
Cream Care
Sandie Foxall Smith, Regard
Martin Nicholas, Partners in Support
Felicity Colton-Lane and Steve Ball, Crimson Hill Support
The Employer of People with a Disability Award
Countryside Sites Team, Worcestershire County Council
Chester O’Neill and Neal Jobling, Amber Support Services
Justin Hackney, Sharon Jeffrey’s and Jo Minchin, LCC/CCH Lincolnshire
Martin Beale, Travis Perkins
Peer Reviewer Project, Community Integrated Care
Gateshead Advice Centre
Ahmed Khan Restaurants, McDonald’s Franchise
The Newcomer Award
Elizabeth Smart, U-Night Group
Karen Macmasters, CMG Ltd
Hayley Scammell, Dimensions UK Ltd
Alex Robinson, National Star College
Audrey Banks, SeeAbility
Joseph Armstead, Voyage Care
Malcolm Pugh, Community Integrated Care
Kathleen McIntyre, Gateshead Council
The Support Worker Award
Sian McGirr, Amber Support Services
Gareth Evans, Livability Lifestyle Choices
Lorraine Dixon, The Fremantle Trust
Hayley Wilkins, Consensus Support
Jackie Bray,The Grange
Michelle Burrows, MacIntyre
Wendy McAnena, MiHomecare
Sarah Pincher, Durhan Careline Lifestyles
The Registered Manager Award
Kathryn Rudge, Halas Homes
Sophia Cursons, Voyage Care
Paula Smith, Community Integrated Care
Rebecca Nike, Hf trust
Mina Gandhi, Bluebird Care
Tracy Jenkins, Noble Care
Cathie Birrell, Turning Point
Christine Fewster, Pathways to Independence
The Senior Manager Award
Jacqui Orrells, Swanton Care and Community
Sally Jobling, Craegmoor
Paul Lord, Future Directions CIC
Andrea Par, MacIntyre
Kelly Johnson-Ward, The Willows PiC
Sarah Jones, Mencap Liverpool
Debbie White, Fitzroy
Joeanne Hamilton, Community Care Choice
The Frontline Leaders Award
Sharon Watson, Gateshead Council
Susan Jamieson, CASA Newcastle
Mel McDonnell, Livability Lifestyle Choices
Kathryn Allison, Precious Homes Ltd
Elaine Coupland, County Enterprise Foods
Deborah Bratt, CareHomes Stoke Ltd/Park View Day Centre
Leanne Robert, Trident Reach
The Learning Disability Nurse Award
Rebecca Tunney, Lighthouse Healthcare
Suzanne Ryan, Future Directions CIC
Sally Ryan, Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust
Dawn Langwade, Bradford District Care Trust
June Greenway, NHS
Chris Shield, Danshell Group
Tracey Lloyd, Hywel DDA U.H.Board
The Making a Difference Award
Sandie Love, Care-Yes
John Carswell, Chelsford College
Heather Birnie, Community Integrated Care
Bedford Project Team, Consensus Support
Tracey Brodie, Great Ormond Street Hospital
Herts Community LD Service, Herefordshire County Council
John Rose, Amber Support Services
Helen Bradley, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Judy Adams, Worcestershire Association of Carers
The Trainer Award
Mary Johnson, Joint Training
Lesley Tite, Beacon Employment
James Punch, Freedom Care
Steve McGuiness, Mistua Consultancy
Hailey Wood, Mencap Liverpool
SPICE, Future Directions CIC
Lucy Harrison, Certitude
Sharon Stanley, Houses of Parliament
The Supported Housing Award
Mark Sturgeon, Affinity Trust
Origin Housing
Lorna O’Shea, The O’Shea Partnership
Mel Baynes, Bernicia
Park Road Independent Supported Living Scheme, Pathways to Independence
The Sporting Chance Award
Lesley Senior, Sanctuary Supported Living
Tees Alive, Community Integrated Care
Louise Hammond, Recoil Trampoline Club
Bob Leeves and the Out There Team, Outreach 3 Way part of Dimensions
Michael Fullerton, CMG Ltd
AAASports
Larissa Milden, Active for Life
Mark Goodwin, Bumble Bees Rufc
The Breaking Down Barriers Award
Jo Allmond, MacIntyre
Ian Hubbard, Opening Doors
Sensory Team, Essex Care
Jodie Reichely, Wokingham LD Partners
Speak Out Leaders, VoiceAbility
Rebecca Hill, Danshell Group
Andrea Jackson & Dot Reeves, Real Life Options
National Brokerage Project Team, The National Autistic Society
The Supporting Older People with Learning Disabilities Award
Oliver Street Team, Community Integrated Care
Carole Guy and The Team at Field House, Lighthouse Healthcare
Hema Abeyatunge, Regard
Josie Bolt, Milestones Trust
Sean Murphy, PSS UK
Polly Massie and The Woodhouse Team, Shaw Healthcare Group
Jennifer Lowe, Voyage Care
Shared Lives, Gateshead Council
The Great Autism Practise Award
Ross Walters, Shaw Healthcare
Colliers House, Dignus Healthcare
Roxanne McKay and Jackie Drohan, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
David Traynor, Community Integrated Care
Hariette Carpenter, Homes Caring for Autism
The Understanding Autism Project, SEQOL, BGSW, CRC & NPS
Jo Stevens, The National Autistic Society
ABI Homes
The People’s Award
Alex Jordan, The Emily Jordan Foundation
The Choice Checker Team, Worcestershire County Council
Maurice Chappell, Parent
The Team of Young Adults and WATT Services, Together Trust
Jen Blackwell, DanceSyndrome
Wells Road Team, Craegmoor – Priory Group
Drama Team, Fitzroy
Andy Fox, Sunderland People First
Bradford People’s Parliament, Turning Point
The Late Sarah Micklewright, ASPIE
The Outstanding Contribution Award
Jilly Davis, The National Autistic Society
Chris Hartshorne, Milewood Healthcare Ltd
John Campbell
Stephen Petts, Cream Care
Judy Adams, Worcester Association of Carers
Kathryn Clarke, Consensus Support
Rex Richardson, Linkage Community Trust
Maurice Chappell, Parent
Lets celebrate excellence in the learning disabilities sector and help it get the recognition it deserves