Foundation Focus - January 2009 Edition - Kent and Medway NHS ...

Kent and Medway
NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Joint winners in the ‘Learning and
Development’ category were Staff Nurse
Leah Scott (centre), and Mental Health
Nurse Chris Cutmore (right), both based
at the Trevor Gibbens Unit. Leah became
the first member of staff to enter the
Trust’s secondment scheme from an
admin post, and went on to prove herself
an exceptional individual by gaining a
First Class Degree. When Chris Cutmore
was first nominated for an award, he was
a keen, motivated and popular student
nurse who was passing all of his clinical
assessments with flying colours. Since
then, despite a devastating personal
tragedy when his young wife Karyn died,
Chris has gone on to qualify as a Mental
Health Nurse while also caring for two
young children. The Trust’s Director of
Social Care, James Sinclair, presented
them with their awards.
Winner of the ‘Unsung Hero’ Award was
the Housekeeping team at St
Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury, who
received their award from Non-Executive
Director Valerie Hale (far right). Since the
team took over the cleaning duties at St
Martin’s, the overall quality of the
cleanliness has improved by nearly 40%.
They achieved this by incorporating a
deep-cleaning schedule for the inpatient
areas and, to prevent too much
disruption to the running of the wards,
the team took it upon themselves to
begin work at 6.30am. These successes
are said to have not only improved
cleanliness, but also morale, with the
team always willing to do anything that
is asked of them.
Clair Vine (centre), Client Services
Manager at the Little Brook Hospital in
Dartford, was the winner in the ‘Above
and Beyond’ category. Clair was
presented with the award by the Trust’s
Chief Executive, Erville Millar, for
consistently demonstrating that she has
the best interests of patients at heart at
all times. Recently, for example, she put
in place a system to ensure that patients’
dignity and self-confidence are
maintained by making toiletry packs
accessible to all newly admitted clients.
Winning individuals took away a trophy
and a cheque for £200 to spend however
they wish within their particular NHS
service. Winning teams collected a trophy
plus £400. Runners-up and Highly
Commended nominees received by a
certificate in recognition of their
achievement in being shortlisted.
In launching the awards ceremony, Trust
Chief Executive Erville Millar, said, “NHS
staff rarely get the recognition they deserve
for the wonderful work they do. These
awards were designed to go some way
towards rectifying that by acknowledging
and rewarding those members of staff
who, day in, day out, work tirelessly,
without complaint, and simply get on with
their jobs to make a real difference to
people's lives.”
It is hoped that the awards
ceremony will now become a regular event
in the Trust’s calendar. To everyone else
within the Trust who was nominated but
didn’t make it onto the shortlist, we also
extend our congratulations in the
knowledge that someone out there has
recognised the great work you do. Well
done to you all.
Full details of all the awards winners and
the other shortlisted nominees can be
found online at www.kmpt.nhs.uk
/staffawards.
Foundation Focus January 2009
7