Red carpet treatment for district's carers (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Red carpet treatment for district's carers

5:10pm Wednesday 10th December 2008

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Bradford District Care Trust staff sashayed down the red carpet at an Oscar’s style awards ceremony to be honoured for their hard work and achievements.

They converged on the National Media Museum for a chance to see themselves on the big screen and claim a share of the £10,000 prize money donated by Sovereign Health Care.

Sarfraz Khan, a community support worker, took home first prize for Learner of the Year after gaining qualifications in Arabic and Spirituality from Leeds University and the University of Central Lancashire, on top of a busy workload.

Service user development worker Tony Carey went home with first prize in the Making a Difference category after working to promote individualised support plans for people with mental health problems.

The New Ridge Team, based in Cottingley, provides day services for people with learning difficulties and won Team of the Year for their work allowing service users to enjoy extreme sports such as archery, canoeing, caving, abseiling, rock climbing and fell working.

Previously people with challenging needs have not been able to engage in these sports because of the perceived safety risks.

Sarah Goonoo, a specialist personal assistant with Connexions, and Penny Blair, a transitional care coordinator, scooped top prize for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Service.

They were recognised for their tireless partnership work to help marginalised and disaffected young people back into education, training and employment.

The Taskforce Team took home the Working Together prize. They are a group of staff and service users with learning disabilities based at Listonshiels Resource Centre and won for producing an information booklet explaining how people with learning disabilities expect to be treated. Other categories and winners were: Outstanding Contribution in Supporting the Delivery of Direct Care – Assessment and Treatment Unit Team at Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford; Valued Colleague – Kath Schofield, Assistant Manager of Melville House, Bradford, and Vera Samociuk, Primary Mental Health Worker; Working with Communities – Temple Row Team, Keighley Day Services; Leader of the Year – John Vickers, Keighley Day Services Manager and Innovation Award – Walks for All, based at Skipton Road Day Services Barbara Keiss, key account manager for Sovereign Health Care, said: “We are once again thrilled to be supporting Bradford District Care Trust in its mission to provide groundbreaking care.”

Care Trust chairman Barry Seal, said: “Year after year we continue to see the fruits of personal achievements which improve and develop our services, the breadth and scope of which are impressive – as is shown by these awards.”

e-mail: claire.lomax @telegraphandargus.co.uk

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