Nominate your Dorset HealthCare ‘stand-out superstar’

People who have received extra-special care or support from local NHS staff or volunteers are being asked to nominate their ‘stand-out superstar’ for Dorset HealthCare’s 2022 Better Every Day Awards.

Staff working in Dorset’s community hospitals or out in local communities, and across local mental health services, are all eligible for an award. And it’s not just ‘frontline’ staff dealing directly with patients who deserve recognition, but also behind-the-scenes people who keep things running in services such as IT, catering and estates management.

Many of the Trust’s staff have gone beyond the call of duty to help patients (and each other) as the county has started to emerge from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and address its many after-effects. Teams and individuals can be nominated across the eight categories, which include an award for our selfless volunteers.

Perhaps you know someone who has made a huge difference to you or a loved one over the past 18 months, or a person or team that has continued to provide a fantastic service during difficult times.

If so, why not nominate them for an award? The categories will recognise:

• Team of the Year – a team which has gone the extra mile to consistently deliver an outstanding service throughout the year
• Leadership and Management – a person who has demonstrated highly effective and valued leadership or management of their team, led by example and acted with professionalism and integrity
• Volunteer of the Year – someone who works tirelessly, generously giving their time, enthusiasm and energy to improve services by supporting patients, visitors and their families
• Apprentice of the Year – a person who has made an exceptional contribution to their workplace
• Bank Worker of the Year – someone who has demonstrated reliability, commitment and continued excellence at work, while being flexible and learning quickly
• Innovation and Improvement – an individual or team who has overcome a challenge and worked on the development of a new initiative or change that has made an improvement to working practices and/or patient care
• Learning in Practice – an outstanding individual who has made a real difference to their work, team, service or patients/service users
• Researcher of the Year – someone who is committed to embedding research in their work, helping Dorset HealthCare develop innovative ways to improve clinical outcomes for patients and translate research findings into practice.

You can find out more and nominate at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/better-every-day-awards

Nominations are open now until Friday, 30 September, and the winners will be announced at a virtual celebration in November.

Andy Willis, Chair of Dorset HealthCare, said:

“It’s been another challenging year, as we have come to terms with the on-going impacts of the pandemic, and we want to recognise the inspirational work our teams do to deliver brilliant services for the people of Dorset.

“We know our people are greatly appreciated for their dedication to our patients and services, so please nominate someone – or a team – to say thank-you. It will mean a great deal to those who are nominated.

“We all really look forward to hearing from you.”

Dorset HealthCare provides community-based physical and mental health services across the county. These awards do not cover staff working at Dorset’s three ‘acute’ hospitals in Bournemouth and Poole (University Hospitals Dorset), and Dorchester (Dorset County Hospital).