Colleagues at Exemplar Health Care, one of the country’s leading nursing care providers for adults living with complex needs, are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Award for their exceptional teamwork and outstanding contributions to the lives of the people they support.
The award recognises the collective achievements of Exemplar Health Care’s Quality Team, with a particular focus on their innovative approaches to the Training Nursing Associate (TNA) programme and their ground-breaking Sexuality Champions work.
The government-backed Nursing Associate role was introduced at Exemplar Health Care in 2019, with the aim of bridging the gap between care colleagues and registered nurses. To date, Exemplar Health Care has supported 35 individuals to graduate from the two-year apprenticeship.
More than three years after the first training courses on the subject were rolled out, Exemplar Health Care has recently expanded its support for facilitating conversations about friendships, sexuality and disability with a new ‘Sexuality Champions’ initiative. The programme was created to change perceptions around sex and disabilities, so that the people Exemplar Health Care supports can have the same rights as everyone else.
The Chief Nurse Award criteria highlights the importance of creative, innovative, and effective team approaches, as well as a high level of performance, capability, and commitment that exceeds expectations.
Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, emphasised the significance of the Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Awards, stating:
“One of the main reasons I launched the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Awards in 2021 was to celebrate the range, experience, and diversity of our talented care workforce. There is wisdom and strength in our diverse backgrounds, and, at best, we are a reflection of the people we care for.
“I’ve been very impressed by the level and quality of care provided by Exemplar Health Care’s team members, which is only underscored by how well they work together. This profession thrives on collaboration, and I’d like to commend the recipients for their group achievements, which have made many residents’ lives fuller.”
Helen Baxendale, Clinical Director at Exemplar Health Care, commented on the achievement:
“We are thrilled to receive the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care award, which is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams. As an organisation that has teamwork as one of our core values, we pride ourselves on being kind, committed and always there for each other.
“Because of this, our nurses can reflect high standards of expertise to support people with complex needs. We feel this holistic approach to care means people get the right care from the right team, the first time round.”
Lianne Ford, Head of Nursing at Exemplar Health Care, said:
“As someone who takes a lot of pride in the various programmes we have rolled out in recent years, I am so honoured and pleased to accept this accolade.
“I have seen first-hand how proactive our team members have been in working together to make sure our residents are not just well cared for, but are also able to live their lives to the fullest.
“I’m incredibly proud of my colleagues, and I believe this is yet another testament to the time and effort put into making sure we come together to provide the highest standards of care.”
