Jo Smith wins regional award
Published: 09/04/2018
Congratulations to Jo Smith, one of our staff, who has won the Care Worker annual award for the Oxfordshire areaWell done Jo!Read the full story below...
Jo Smith, Bluebird Care South Oxfordshire is the well-deserved recipient of the Highly Commended - Home Care Worker Award given by the Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP) in recognition and celebration of their excellence and professionalism in care work in Adult Social Care in Oxfordshire.On Friday, 23rd March 2018, Oxfordshire Association of Care providers (OACP) hosted Talking Care: Inspiration for All at the Kassam Stadium Conference and Events Centre, Oxford, an event to recognise, celebrate and acknowledge the excellence in care in Adult Social Care in the County.
A busy agenda included keynote speaker Sarah Rhodes, HR Consultant, at employment experts Citation, presenting on ‘The workforce post-Brexit’. Social care employs many people from the European Union and Brexit may have a big impact of the delivery of services post March 2019, depending on the settlement the UK gains with the EU Workshops included a focus on the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) due to be implemented in May this year. The regulations will impact on all sectors, and adult social care is preparing confidently for the changes. An additional workshop examined how we can build on current recruitment of care workers and build a clearer career pathway in Oxfordshire, promoting working in Adult Social Care as a fulfilling, rewarding and secure career.
The day climaxed with the excitedly anticipated second ‘Oxfordshire Care Awards 2018’ - a ‘celebration of local social care’ where those nominated were celebrated and presented with their much-deserved Awards! The individual Highly Commended Awards across six categories were;
Newcomer to Care Award - Ellie McClements, Larkrise Care Centre, Orders of St John Care Trust
Care Home Worker Award - Sharon Hunt, Huntercombe Hall, Caring Homes
Home Care Worker Award - Jo Smith, Bluebird Care, South Oxfordshire
Registered Manager Award - Lynda Gardner, Oxford Aunts Care
Care Employer Award - Style Acre, and
Oxfordshire Hero Award – Lins Howard-Dean and Rosemary Dean, Oxfordshire Shared Lives Scheme
Awards were introduced by Kate Terroni, Director for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council and presented by Cllr Lawrie Stratford Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Oxfordshire County Council.
Eddy McDowall, CEO, Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers said: “It’s important that social care has the opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work it does, day in and day out. The Awards recognise how people and services make a difference every day. In addition, this all-round event gave people working in a very pressured sector, the opportunity to come together - it truly was inspirational - there are some amazing people, companies and organisations working in Adult Social Care in Oxfordshire!”
