Morale boost for top quality staff (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Morale boost for top quality staff

MORALE has taken turn for the better at Swindon's Social Services. At the first quality service awards ceremony at the De Vere Hotel, awards were given to staff who had been nominated by their colleagues and clients.

The event was compered by Susan Osman, of BBC Points West, and awards were given to teams as well as individuals.

Coun Ian Dobie, (Con, Haydon Wick), the cabinet member for social care, was pleased that the event showed social services staff in a positive light.

He said: "Swindon Social Services has not had an easy time but people are doing excellent work on a daily basis.

"To receive constant knocks is tough for anybody to endure and reports have not exactly sung our praises to the highest level, but these awards are very good for morale.

"Nobody could fail to pick up on the very positive buzz that was in the air."

The winner of the gold award in the children and families category was Judy Henry, a senior social worker with the children and families intervention team.

She said: "I'm embarrassed, excited and very surprised.

"Usually we just don't do compliments. You just get your head down and do the job.

"What was really nice was to see the community support workers getting awards.

"Their work is often unseen. For example, they go to people's homes and turn adults in their beds."

Ms Henry, 38, from Rowde, near Devizes, has been a social worker in Swindon since 1996.

Among her other roles she does one-to-one work with children, group work, and case assessments.

Catherine Smith won the gold award in the adult services category. She has been a care support worker in Swindon for 14 years.

Mrs Smith, 51, from Gorse Hill, said: "I'm still in shock. I never dreamt I would win this.

"We take care of people in their own homes and in sheltered accommodation.

"I get them up and washed, and give them breakfast and medication.

"In the evening we give them their tea and put them to bed.

"Sometimes we're the only people that go in to see them, so it's very important to them."

The service helps people keep their independence instead of going into residential care.

Other winners were: Valerie Vincent, Annette Powell, Alison Foster, David Titcombe and Marion Ward.