This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an exceptional employer who is committed to their employees delivering an excellent service to their customers, people with learning disabilities or people with autism and their families.Employers should be able to provide considerable acumen and entrepreneurial flair whilst at the same time having a sustained track record of delivering high quality care and managing change improvement.

This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of a new member of staff who has started work in the care sector in the last 12 months. The individual can be someone who is new to the sector or returning after at least two years away.

Managers set the tone and the culture of a service. The award will celebrate a manager who has demonstrated a high level of expertise, exceptional skills in leadership and management, great support for colleagues and a positive commitment to person centred support. A manager who shows vision in developing high quality services and supporting staff to meet the ever changing needs of the people they support.

We are looking for the provider or person, who has promoted inclusion and community cohesion through their work or role in the community – particularly where this has helped make a positive change happen
in people’s lives. This person or team may have a learning disability
or be working in the field of learning disability. We are looking for an outstanding person who works creatively and passionately to ensure people with a learning disability have equal access and involvement in their community.

This award will be given to a person who is a supervisor, senior care worker, team leader or a first time manager and has shown clear commitment to improving the delivery of care and support within their team. A person who has shown leadership qualities by reflecting on what could be better and supporting others to bring about change.

This award will be given to a housing provider, RSL or a housing and information advice organisation that works with people with a learning disability and people with autism. The award seeks to celebrate innovative approaches and good practice to deliver a range of housing options.

Sport is an area where people with disabilities can be seen as achievers and winners, and participation in sport or physical activities can improve people’s health and wellbeing. We are looking for a person or team who have worked creatively to develop sporting activities in which people with learning disabilities and/or autism can choose to participate and enjoy.

The overriding goal of good autism practice is to enhance quality
of life for individuals, families and supporters by making reasonable adjustments or providing support developing strategies to increase happiness and wellbeing in people with autism. This award will be presented to a team or individual who demonstrate evidence of good practice in their services and support to people with autism.

This award will be presented to an individual who the judges think has made a long-term outstanding contribution to the lives of people with a learning disability and/or autism. Nominations are welcomed from across the health and social care sector.

This award will be presented to an organisation who employs and supports a person with learning disability or autism. We are looking for a business or charity that demonstrates true values of respect, equality and accessibility for their employees who have a learning disability and/ or autism. The employer does not have to be a social care provider.

This award recognises the crucial role of the support worker in providing high quality support for people with a learning disability and/or autism. Evidence of commitment to person centred approaches, supporting people with dignity and respect alongside dedication, team working and good humour will be important features for the judges. This category is open to personal assistants, carers and support workers.

This award acknowledges the important role that specialist nurses have in promoting the emotional, physical and psychological health of the people who they support. At a time when there is growing evidence
that people who have a learning disability experience discrimination, bullying, hate crime and poor access to services in general terms as well as healthcare the role of specialist professionals has never been more important.

This special award will acknowledge the importance of trainers who have incorporated the principles of The Oliver McGowan mandatory training into their training programme.

We are looking for a person or team who has shown a passion and commitment in ensuring that staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to reflect the experiences and needs of people with a learning disability and/or autism, to improve their health outcomes.

There must be evidence of co-production at each stage of the design and delivery of the training programme from people with a learning disability and/or autism.

We like it when we can see good access and easy read, as it helps to include all and encourages everyone to communicate more clearly and get around more easily. The award will celebrate an individual
or organisation who have worked to make sure people get clear information and are able to contribute their views and experiences.

Let’s celebrate excellence in supporting older people with a learning disability or autism. The judges are looking for evidence from providers and individuals who are positive about older people, provide excellent person centred support, promoting independence, dignity and respect.

This award will presented to an individual or team of people with autism or a learning disability. We want to celebrate individuals or organisations who offer exceptional encouragement and support for individuals with learning disabilities and or autism in providing support services and or personal development and inclusion.

Many people with profound and multiple learning disabilities face disproportionate challenges in life. But with person-centred, collaborative and creative support, people with PMLD can lead a full, healthy and active life and be active citizens in their community. This award celebrates innovative and inspiring practice that achieves positive outcomes for people with PMLD. The judges are looking for evidence from social care providers/education centres, teams/individuals who are having a profound impact on the lives of people with PMLD.

The overriding goal of positive behaviour support is to enhance quality of life for individuals and their support providers. This award will be presented to a team, or individual who demonstrate evidence of best practice in their services. The judges are looking for outcome based approaches that blend values about the rights of people with disabilities with evidence based practice about how behaviour change occurs.