Regional Service User Ambassadors at Exemplar Health Care Recognised with Leadership Award

Exemplar Health Care has recognised two of its Regional Service User Ambassadors with a new award, celebrating their outstanding contribution to shaping service user engagement across the provider’s 60 homes.

Adam, who lives at Greenside Court in Rotherham, and Alex, who lives at Maypole Grove in Birmingham, received the award in recognition of the leadership role they have played through Exemplar Health Care’s Service User Council, helping to ensure residents’ voices are heard at every level of the organisation.

As Exemplar Health Care’s first Regional Service User Ambassadors, Adam and Alex have helped create, define, and develop the role since its inception. Acting as an important, trusted link between residents and senior leaders, they help to share impactful feedback, insights, and ideas from across all homes.

Adam is one of Exemplar Health Care’s longest-serving Service User Ambassadors, with eight years’ experience supporting the council’s work. Alex is also a long-standing Ambassador and worked alongside Adam and Sophia Feurtado-Jackson, Exemplar Health Care’s Service User Engagement Manager, to co-create the Regional Ambassador role.

Reflecting on their achievement, Adam, Regional Service User Ambassador, said:

“Being Regional Service User Ambassadors has given us a real opportunity to make sure residents’ voices are properly heard at every level. It means a lot to be recognised alongside Alex for this award, and I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together through the Service User Council.”

Both Ambassadors have also represented Exemplar Health Care externally, presenting at sector events including Nursing Live, as well as playing a key role in regular ‘Audience with the Exec’ meetings. These sessions, developed through the Service User Council, provide a platform for residents to share feedback directly with Exemplar Health Care’s senior leadership team.

Last week, Adam and Alex were involved in Sheffield Hallam University’s ‘Simulation Day’ for first year students on their Nursing (Learning Disability) and Social Work course, alongside several Exemplar Health Care nursing colleagues.

They supported a number of activities throughout the day, including a role play activity where students had to support an admission into a care home, gathering information from the individual to inform their care. They also shared their life stories and experiences of living in a care home, and supported a Q&A session about social care nursing.

Sophia, Service User Engagement Manager at Exemplar Health Care, said: “This award recognises our first Regional Service User Ambassadors, who have truly led the way in strengthening and shaping our service user engagement strategy. They have represented Ambassadors from across all regions with integrity and passion, acting as a clear and trusted voice by summarising insights and providing meaningful feedback to our senior leadership team.

“Their influence is widely felt. They are admired by peers, have made a real impact on colleagues and residents alike, and exemplify what leadership through collaboration looks like. I am incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements.”