Pauline Glass, Senior Drug Worker, based at Clody House, Luton has been recognised for her energy, passion and enthusiasm.

Pauline was awarded the Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust’s Shine a Light award after being nominated by her colleague Mahmood Shah, Senior Drug Worker.

Mahmood said: “I nominated Pauline for her initiation and continued amazing work with the Service User Involvement Group ‘GOAL’ (Going Onto Another Level). This group has gone from strength to strength, a member of which shared his story on BBC 3 Counties Radio recently.

“Pauline has done this whilst holding a caseload of over 50 clients, working with some of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our community. She has shown patience, dedication and perseverance, starting the initiative from its initial creation to its current rising status within Luton.

“She is an integral part of the Luton Drug Service and is valued by both patients and colleagues alike. She is compassionate and understanding and her clients/patients have the utmost respect for her as do her colleagues.

“It is a privilege to work alongside Pauline. She is full of energy, passion and enthusiasm. All the while having her clients/patients welfare as her number one aim and target.”

The “Shine a Light” scheme allows members of the public to nominate staff who have delivered a fantastic service and made a real difference to their lives. Trust staff are also encouraged to nominate their colleagues.

Pauline said: “I am overwhelmed by the nomination and by the kind and generous comments made by my colleague Mahmood. Luton Drug Service is currently going through a transformation process which has been a challenging time for the whole team. However, change brings about new opportunities and I have been fortunate in setting the new service user involvement group, GOAL. This role has been very rewarding and is a fantastic opportunity to do some real innovative work and getting service users actively involved in shaping the future of drug and alcohol treatment in Luton.

“I work alongside some fantastic people dedicated and committed to the cause and it is my pleasure to be part of both teams; my Luton Drug Service team and the GOAL team. I am looking forward to what other avenues will be opening up for GOAL.“

Every month a member of staff or a team are selected from a list of nominations as the “Shine a Light” award winner.  If you would like to nominate a member of staff or a team who has gone the extra mile for you, you can nominate on line at www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk.

(Photo: Back: Matthew Winn, Chief Executive; Front: Kelly Meghan, GOAL Treasurer, Pauline Glass, Senior Drug Worker, Ali Amjad, GOAL Coordinator and Israr Khan, GOAL Chairperson).