Cygnet Health Care Hosts First Achievement Awards

Health and Social Care workers have spoken of their pride after winning awards at a leading healthcare company’s inaugural achievement awards.

This year, Cygnet Health Care launched the first ever Cygnet Staff Achievement Awards, open to all staff across Healthcare, Social Care and Support Services, to celebrate its caring, dedicated and hard-working colleagues.

Cygnet Health Care supports individuals with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism and employs nearly 11,000 staff across the UK. Held at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, the inaugural awards recognised the individuals and teams who made outstanding contributions towards ensuring service users receive the highest standard of care.

Colleagues were able to nominate one another and there was almost 1,000 nominations across 12 categories, all judged by different, independent panels recognising the range of skills across the Cygnet Health Care workforce – including support workers, clinicians, chefs, IT, nursing and all the other vital roles.

All winners were presented with their awards by BBC presenter JJ Chalmers who was guest of honour at the event.

Gavin Nugent is a support worker at Oxley Woodhouse, a specialist residential service in Huddersfield, supporting individuals with learning disabilities, complex needs and behaviours that may challenge. He won the Unsung Hero award which recognised an individual who is always there and will pitch in and do whatever is needed to help and support their colleagues and service users.

During the pandemic Gavin decided to move out of his home and camp at a local campsite so he could protect his family but continue working at Oxley.

Upon receiving the award, Gavin said: “It is really humbling to win this award, I feel exceptionally lucky to be recognised for the work I have done and the sacrifices I made during Covid. Making other people happy is a big motivation for me and that is why I find this job so satisfying, making a difference to the lives of our service users. It makes me feel good to see them happy. The entire event has been amazing, it has felt like the Oscars of support working.”

Megan Bradley is a Nurse Associate at Cygnet Manor, in Shirebrook, Mansfield, a high dependency complex care service for men with learning disabilities, associated complex needs and who may have behaviours that challenge. She won the Care (Joy in Work) award which recognised a team or individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to making Cygnet a great place to work.

Megan said: “I am really shocked but it is an amazing feeling. I was so grateful to be nominated. I love what I do and to be recognised in this way feels incredible.

“Knowing that the work I am doing is making a difference to the service users and my colleagues is fantastic and gives me motivation to keep going and to keep thinking of new ideas to make sure Cygnet Manor remains an incredible place to work.”

Other award categories included; Integrity, Learner of the Year, Bright Future, Empower, Delivering Service Excellence and Support Act of the Year.

Dr Tony Romero, CEO of Cygnet Health Care, said: “The most important part of any organisation is its’ people. They are the engine, the magic ingredient behind all of what makes Cygnet Health Care the special organisation that it is. The hard work, commitment and dedication that they pour into their roles every day means we are able to change lives for the better. These awards recognise the achievements and difference that our motivated, compassionate and value-driven staff make for our services users and colleagues.

“Through the nominations process we saw so many wonderful examples of how our staff go above and beyond and step up to work outside of their role, sacrificing their time and dedication for the benefit of the individuals in their care. Our winners and nominees are the embodiment of this and I congratulate all of them for what they achieved. Their passion helps to embed the positive culture at Cygnet Health Care and they constantly goes above and beyond, putting service users at the heart of all they do.”