Chief nurse for adult social care launches new award for 'exceptional' nurses and care workers

The government has launched gold and silver awards to pay tribute to the outstanding contribution made by staff working in social care in England.

Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Professor Deborah Sturdy outlined her commitment to recognise the outstanding contribution made by nurses and care workers in adult social care in England and their enormous range of skills, expertise and compassion.

Presented as gold and silver awards, they represent an important step towards bringing recognition in line with the NHS workforce and recognise the extraordinary commitment of the adult social care workforce.

The awards will be extended to include all carers across all care settings, not only care homes.

Professor Study said: “The pandemic has shone a light on the exemplary efforts of our dedicated social care workforce, and I am committed to ensuring we recognise the selfless hard work they do day in and day out.

“The social care workforce more than ever continues to demonstrate unwavering compassion, professionalism and dedication. Not only during the pandemic but every year.

“I am extremely proud to present these awards to colleagues in social care which reflect those for colleagues in the NHS.

“These individual awards recognise exceptional practice and care and rightly give recognition, acknowledgement and appreciation that those individuals deserve.”

The gold award will recognise outstanding achievements and performance demonstrated by a nurse or social care worker. This may be clinical practice, education, research or leadership. The award recognises the exceptional contribution by an individual with a distinguished career in nursing or social care.

The silver award recognises performance that goes above and beyond the expectations of the everyday role that the nurse or social care worker is expected to perform. Again, this could be demonstrated in education, research, patient and carer experience, leadership, tackling diversity and health inequalities, and could be awarded to either an individual or a team.

The awards will be on an application basis and awarded throughout the year and nominations will be considered by a panel of NHS and adult social care chief nursing officers and adult social care sector representatives.

Applications are available as a form that should be supported by two signatories. To fill in the gold award nomination form, go to https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/Goldaward2021

To fill in the silver award nomination form, go to https://consultations.dhsc.gov.uk/silveraward2021