The award recognises the vital contributions of HCSWs and their exceptional support of nursing practice and acknowledges HCSWs who consistently demonstrate the NHS values and behaviours when fulfilling their everyday roles to provide excellent patient care.
Cathy was nominated by her colleague, Community Nursing Sister Laura Sandy, who said: “Cathy consistently demonstrates the NHS values in every aspect of her work. She is committed to providing the patient with quality care, and always does so with dignity and respect.
“Cathy is passionate about safeguarding team morale. She is so supportive to all of us, she is the glue that holds our team together and it’s Cathy we turn to when we need help. She shows great compassion, and I think we would all agree she is a shoulder to cry on in times of need.
“Having joined MPFT as a call handler, Cathy has pushed herself out of her comfort zone to train as a HCSW and she continues to grow in confidence. Cathy is hoping to start further training, which will mean she can continue to develop her clinical skills. We hope she stays with us for a very long time, ideally until she retires!”
Cathy said: “I feel very proud and humbled to have received a Healthcare Support Worker Chief Nursing Officer Award. It was a complete shock, but it means so much.
“I really do love my job; no day is the same and I feel extremely lucky to have supported so many incredible patients and nurse colleagues. I am very grateful for the opportunities the Trust has provided me with to develop my career. I am part of a fantastic team and I strongly value the support and encouragement that we offer to each other.”
Liz added: “Our HCSW colleagues are integral to our workforce, often found at the heart of our clinical teams and the communities across our patch. They make a real difference every day to the lives of the patients they care for and the nursing colleagues they support. Cathy absolutely deserves this recognition and to be celebrated for all that she does for the communities we serve. She truly lives MPFT and NHS values and behaviours, which has a huge positive impact on both our patients and staff.”