Recognition for Greater Manchester's Community Heroes
Care and Health Champions honoured at award ceremony
Unsung heroes from across Greater Manchester have been recognised and rewarded for the outstanding contribution they make to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
The Health and Care Champion Awards 2019 recognise those in our communities going above and beyond to improve health and wellbeing.
11 individuals and teams were honoured last night (Thursday 4 July) at Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry.
Nearly 250 guests heard about the tremendous work of over 30 shortlisted candidates who every day make a huge difference and impact on the organisations they work for, the people they work with and the patients they serve.
Practice Nurse, Janine Hussey, was crowned the People’s Champion after being nominated by multiple patients. Janine is not only a dedicated and inspiring Practice Nurse, she actively supports her local food bank and trains nurses from another practice on her days off. Janine has established great links with the local LGBT community and has been known to help her patients with shopping and cooking during her home visits.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, was present to hand out his Mayor’s Special Recognition Award. This year it was awarded to Faye Larkin who sadly died at the end of 2018. Faye’s Mum, Trish Larkin, accepted the award on her daughter’s behalf. Faye worked with clinicians and commissioners to help establish a Borderline Personality Strategy across Greater Manchester. She also used her own first-hand experience to design a questionnaire for A&E departments. These ‘iStatements’ have really helped improve how our urgent care colleagues review and look after patients with mental health issues.
Andy presented the award for Faye Larkin to her mother Trish. She was joined on stage by Faye’s brothers Sean, Paul and Adam, and Sean’s wife Suzy and Paul’s wife Abi.
Trish said afterwards: “This is Faye’s award. It was her hard work and we are very proud to receive it on her behalf. Her purpose was to be recognised as a human being, not as a mental health patient.”
Brothers Sean, Paul and Adam said they were proud of their sister. Adam said: “She didn’t like the stigma around mental health. Faye knew she was more than a statistic. She spoke from the heart about her experience and the suggestions she made have been taken up and led to positive change.”
Chloe Johnson was recognised as our Rising Star after bringing her personal experience of being a care leaver in to the work she does as Apprentice Outreach Development Worker at Rochdale Borough Council.
Jon Rouse, Chief Officer, Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership said:
“So many people representing all kinds of occupations and sectors came together at our award night and really recognised and celebrated each other’s work. It was simply wonderful to hear how all of our shortlisted candidates have impacted on the lives of so many people right across Greater Manchester. I think we all felt incredibly proud.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:
“It is incredibly important that we run awards like these tonight. Being able to recognise and celebrate the outstanding breadth and diversity of our workforce is something we should really do every day. Whether you work in a care home, hospital, an office, voluntary organisation, out in the community or you’re a carer at home, you are making a positive contribution. I am so proud of what everyone nominated has done.
Full list of winners
Mayor’s Special Recognition Award
In memory of Faye Larkin
Apprentice of the Year
Sarah Brooksbank, Carers Service, Tameside MBC
Collaboration
Emma Dickenson, Greater Manchester Police Control Room Triage Operations Manager, North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Dedication to Volunteering
Katherine Chapman, Parent Champion, Manchester City Council
Inclusion Champion
School Improvement Equalities Team, Rochdale Borough Council
Innovation
Alexandra Hoskyn, Social Worker, Oldham Social Services
Leader Across Boundaries
Joint nominations: Karen James, Chief Executive, Tameside and Glossop
Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and Steven Pleasant MBE, Chief Executive, Tameside Council and Accountable Officer, Tameside and Glossop CCG
Leader in Supporting Talent Development
Alvine Andrews, Registered Manager, Oak Lodge, Alternative Futures Group, Bolton
People’s Champion
Janine Hussey, The Height General Practice, Salford
Recognition of Unwaged Carers
All unwaged carers across greater Manchester were acknowledged
Rising Star
Chloe Johnson, Apprentice Outreach Development Worker, Rochdale Borough Council
Student of the Year
Rajiv Sethi, Master of Public Health Graduate, University of Mancheste