CareTech : Care Awards 2021

THE 7TH ANNUAL	2021
CARETECH
CARE AWARDS

THE CARETECH CARE AWARDS 2021 HONOURS

OUR WONDERFUL STAFF.

The 7th Annual CareTech Care Awards 2021 was a celebration of our selfless staff from across the Group.

Guests were awed and humbled by the testimonials shared about the National Winners and their commitment to delivering care beyond measure to those we support.

Haroon Sheikh, Group CEO, opened proceedings with a keynote speech that reflected on how admirably CareTech's workforce had not only coped with, but overcome the challenges of the past 18 months.

He spoke of his pride at how the company banded together saying:

'The awards are about reaching out and thanking the teams that make up the CareTech Family; you are already winners for the work that you do, the effort you put in and for the commitment you give to this organisation.

This year is particularly special as we have all spent so much time seeing each other on virtual meetings and tonight we are amongst friends and colleagues and we want to enjoy it and celebrate what is important.'

Above: Group CEO Haroon Sheikh begining the evening by addressing Care Awards guests.

Overall Winner 2021 - Lisa Stafford

Above: Lisa Stafford receives her Overall Winner Award from Group CEO Haroon Sheikh and Group

Executive Director, Corporate, Shokat Akbar.

Our Overall Winner for 2021 was Specialist Services manager Lisa Stafford who was both thrilled and surprised to win the biggest accolade of the night. Group Executive Director Corporate, Shokat Akbar, told the crowd that she inspires her staff team to emulate her passion and commitment towards the people we support.

One colleague said: 'I admire her so much and hope to manage in the firm but fair way she does when I reach her level in my own career.'

Lisa is currently managing two sites as well as trouble shooting at another, but never has anyone felt she wasn't present for them and she is truly loyal to each of her services. She endeavours to get the best out of people while being understanding and kind at the same time. Well done to Lisa on this huge achievement.

There were many heart-warming moments throughout the ceremony but perhaps the most emotional part of the night was the story of Katherine Douglas, who won The Michael Hill Charitable Community Award. The inspirational support worker not only continued to work at Trabel House throughout her Mother's cancer diagnosis and subsequent sad passing but also revealed a new passion; raising money for the hospice that cared for her Mum.

Katherine began to fundraise for the hospice by shaving her long hair; she also donated an impressive 19 inches of hair to The Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.

In total Kath has raised £335 so far for Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice and the CareTech Foundation match funded her brilliant efforts with a £250 donation, making her final total over £580.

Above: Katherine Douglas poses proudly with Charles Leigh-Pemberton of Panmure Gordon

and Group Strategic Director John Ivers after receiving the Michael Hill Charitable Community Award.

Nasir Quraishi, Group Executive Director of Adults and Specialist Services, read a poem he had written with the help of his daughter. It featured the verse:

'Thank you for your kindness and support, it makes a difference because you really do care.

Remember that you are special and what you give is compassion and a caring hand.

Because of this the lives of people of people you support and care for, become extraordinary every day.'

We celebrated Ken at the awards for being a longstanding and hard-working CareTech carer of 18 years. The man named 'the most loyal staff member you could have' by his Deputy Manager Donna Carter, works at Templefields House and is always available when his team need help, whether it be at work or with personal issues.

After becoming a Senior Support Worker, progressing to Deputy and then Manager Ken decided he wanted to return to being a Support Worker which allows him more time to do what he enjoys most - empower service users to be independent and take them on holidays and days out.

He has come full circle and we are proud and grateful to have had him with us for nearly two decades.

Right: Ken Taylor, winner of the Long Service Award, with his Locality Manager Charity Dube and Group Executive Director Nasir Quraishi.

Team Player of the Year, Sue Adams, was due to retire in 2019 but both CareTech and her home felt that she still had a lot to offer so a new role was created for Sue, as Day Care Co-Ordinator. She organises all the day care activities, attends all health appointments with service users and covers senior shifts as a Grade 2 support worker.

Sue has stayed at the service for consecutive days many times, whether it was due to bad weather conditions or COVID-19, to ensure the home had a staff member on shift who could cover all aspects of care.

This experienced carer encompasses all the CareTech values wholeheartedly and her commitment and loyalty to those she assists at Kingston House is extraordinary.

Above: Operations Director for South Region, Phil Caldwell and Locality Manager Theresa Prickett present Sue Adams with her Team Player of the Year trophy.

Jeremy Wiles, Group Executive Director of Children's Services, asked the assembled guests to 'applaud the 12,000 staff who aren't present at the awards to say thank you for all they do each and every day.'

The resounding applause was testament to how deeply respected our carers are by their peers.

Above: The Smartbox team with Group Executive Director of Corporate, Shokat Akbar and

Group Executive Director of IT, Wahid Cockar.

Earlier this year, CareTech and Smartbox partnered on a truly innovative 12 month project called 100 Voices, bringing care and technology together to improve outcomes for the people we support.

Over the past few months we have given high tech augmentative and alternative communication devices (AAC) to 100 adults and students within our homes and schools.

The Smartbox team have done an incredible job of collecting data, developing case studies and recording the effect that assistive tech has had on helping these individuals to reach their care or education goals.

Our hope is that the results of the 100 Voices project will play a huge part in creating sustainable change that improves inclusion and opportunity for CareTech service users and students, both now and in the future.

This carer was deservedly awarded Outstanding Achievement of the Year and was described as having 'the firmest boundaries, the kindest heart, the loudest laugh' and will cover sleep ins at her residential home so the young person she supports can enjoy having friends over. Thanks to Kathryn Field's endless dedication this child has experienced their first holiday abroad, attended festivals and now enjoys a quality of life that was unimaginable three years ago.

They are now independent, thriving, and now successfully moving on from this home, which is a tribute to Kathryn's approach.

Left: The winner of Outstanding Achievement of the

Year, Kathryn Field with Regional Manager Victoria

Elworthy and Managing Director of Cambian West,

Mike Ore.

Above: Group Finance Director Christopher Dickinson and CareTech Foundation CEO Jonathan

Freeman with the School of the Year, Scarborough School.

The staff team and young people at Scarborough School have shown a great deal of resilience in working with the Covid -19 protocol and have adapted incredibly well to the new environmental changes.

Positivity is one of the traits of this school's success and the staff team have found positives each day to keep a happy momentum, making sure students feel secure at school. There is always plenty of laughter reverberating from the staff room and long may it continue.

We are proud and grateful to every teacher for their selfless commitment to their students and working to deliver outstanding outcomes for each child.

We would like to congratulate all of our outstanding National Winners 2021 and extend our deepest gratitude to each of them and all our staff across CareTech for their tireless work.