Dignity Awards

12th May 2010

After many, many weeks of nervous waiting, we have now found the winner for the LINk Dignity Award for 2010: Tina Brown from Anchor care homes was announced as winner and presented with the award at a special awards ceremony and festive dinner for all the nominees on 27th April 2010.

The ceremony was held at The Place Hotel close to Piccadilly and we pulled out all the stops to make sure the nominees had a fantastic evening. Following a welcome drink and general mingle Anna Gaughan, the Regional Dignity Lead for the Department of Health, opened the evening with a very moving speech. She highlighted the importance of treating people with dignity and respect and congratulated the nominees as well as the LINk for the great work we are doing to embed this in local services. Then we enjoyed a lovely meal before Councillor Sue Cooley finally unveiled the winner and presented a very modest Tina with her award. Allan Beswick from BBC Radio Manchester also lent a helping hand guiding us through the event in his usual unique and entertaining style.

Overall the event was a great success and even the unlucky nominees who unfortunately did not win had a terrific time reflecting on their achievements and getting together with their colleagues for a well-deserved celebration. We want to once again thank everyone for coming and making it a truly special evening and wish you all the best of luck for the future. Keep up the great work!

And if you know someone else who does amazing work to promote dignity whether as an individual or as a team or organization, please nominate them for next year’s awards. The deadline for nominations ends on 30th December 2010 so get nominating now!

Spotlight on: Tina Brown

So who’s our winner then? Tina Brown is an activity coordinator at Anchor care homes Beechfield Lodge. She was chosen by LINk members for transforming the lives of the elderly people she works with and bringing a little ‘sparkle’ to their days. The accolade comes 11 months after Tina started work at Beechfield, where she put her dignity champion training into practice by arranging activities that bring the home together.

Today they have a packed schedule which includes Irish dancing, film nights and pub lunches. In fact many are so busy they are now asking their relatives to book visits in advance. Olwyn Owen, 91, said: “We do all sorts – we bake, we make things, we play dominoes and bingo. We’re very lucky to have her.” Fellow resident Joan Burrows, 90, said: “I love her to bits – she’s lightened us all up.”

Home manager Sharon Bollesty has received a number of thank you letters about Tina. She’s absolutely priceless. “Tina is the real life and soul of Beechfield and has changed the residents’ lives. They are now motivated and have entered external competitions, played host to residents from other homes and schools. Some residents, who were worried about life in a care home are now taking part in daily activities, social events and regularly going out on one or more of the weekly trips to local social clubs, pubs, pantomimes and restaurants. Every home deserves a Tina.”

Delighted Tina said: “I would not be anywhere else – these people are like my second family. Coming here is what gets me up in the morning, it’s so rewarding.” We, too, are delighted that there are people like Tina out there and hope that she’ll continue to keep the residents of Beechfield Lodge active for a long time yet.

Apart from Tina we had equally great nominations for:
o The Central Manchester Intermediate Care team
o Siobhan Doolan from Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT)
o The Manchester Learning Disability Partnership team at 144 Wythenshawe Road
o The Vascular Checks Steering Group at NHS Manchester
o The staff team from ward F4 at Wythenshawe Hospital
o The Acute & Rehabilitation Medicine team at the Manchester Royal Infirmary
o The team who developed the Customer Service Training Programme for CMFT
o The Great Places Housing Group staff team at the Docherty Project

As one of the voting LINk members noted on their form: “They all showed initiative was not lacking and each did the project given well.” and we would like to wholeheartedly agree. Well done! If you would like to find out more about the other nominees or indeed nominate an individual or organisation for next year’s award, please get in touch with Valeska on 0161 214 3981 or by email to valeska@blackhealthagency.org.uk.

Final words from our winner

I began working for Anchor Homes over six years ago. I transferred to Beechfield Lodge from another Anchor Home, Israel Sieff Court, in June, 2009.
Beechfield Lodge is a residential home for 59 residents, all of whom have varying levels of frailty and dependency.
I completed the Dignity Champion training in September, 2008 and this is an area I am passionate about. I am proud to be a Dignity Champion and to promote dignity and respect to all our residents here at Beechfield. I am also here to support staff, family and friends with their understanding and am able to get the right information they require from Anchor Dementia Specialists.
Since arriving at Beechfield, I have worked very hard with the staff to support our residents and to empower them with their own lives. It is very important to all of us that our residents are the most important people here.
I have worked to provide the residents with greater choices. We meet regularly to discuss their needs and preferences so I can get the right activity organised for them.
I try to include all our residents, even the residents who prefer there own company and remain in their room, I make a point to go and visit and have a cup of tea and a chat with.
Winning the LINk award was so special to me and such a big surprise. My Manager, Sharon Bollesty had nominated me and I was very honoured just to be shortlisted, amongst such deserving nominees.
I would like to say this award has been valued by all the staff and residents and families and this is only the beginning for us here at Beechfield.
We strongly believe here that everyone should have a happy and fulfilled life and I am proud to be part of enabling our residents to do this.

Tina Brown, 10th May 2010