This award is an opportunity for patients, families, visitors and Trust colleagues to say ‘thank you – you made a difference’ to a member of staff or a team for anything (however small!) that helped make their experience of our services better.

Our Winner for October 2020 is Jo Cope, Lead Dental Nurse, Huntingdon

Jo was nominated by six of her colleagues for her outstanding work over the last few months.  Below are the nominations she received:

“Jo has been at the forefront of managing our dental team in Huntingdon during this ever-changing Covid period. She has shown organisation, commitment and empathy during these challenging times and we have always been well led at work. She has been a true sport and always has a smile on her face despite the number of changes that she is constantly being challenged with. She is a valued member of the team who has gone above and beyond to take care of all of us through these uncertain times.” 
Puja Kalawadia 

“Since taking on the Lead Dental Nurse role, Jo has excelled as an excellent team leader through Covid supporting everyone in their role, and keeping us all safe.”
Julie Ellerbeck

“Since Jo took on the role of Lead Dental Nurse in 2019 she has really shown what a truly amazing person she is, but when the additional difficulties of Covid-19 hit this went up to another level. We know that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, especially with all of the continuous changes; However, Jo has been absolutely amazing throughout. She has been unbelievably supportive and encouraging to all of us. Every time there was a change in the SOPs she guided us through it with ease, and always has a pragmatic approach to any problems.

“Working days are always started with 'positive quotes' which have really helped in boosting staff morale. Jo even hid little cards with uplifting, encouraging and positive quotes around the department which always make you smile when you open a cupboard or a drawer. Jo is our 'voice of reason' and our 'rock'. Within her role she has had so much to deal with but she is always positive, smiling and always has time or you, and Jo always makes us laugh no matter how down you might be feeling. Jo is so kind and thoughtful and during these very difficult and unprecedented times she has always been mindful of our health and mental wellbeing. She is truly amazing and I think we would certainly be lost without her.”
Julia Peacock

“Jo has made a huge difference to the department as our Lead Dental Nurse, she always listens and takes on board how each individual member of the team is coping with all the changes and concerns we have had, especially over the last 6 months with coping with Covid. At times it has been very difficult and stressful working within the department but she is always there to support us. I feel that she so deserves some recognition of all the hard work she has put in since taking on this extended job role.” 
Michelle Keohane 

“She's amazing!! Always making sure everyone else is alright and up to date and puts everyone else's needs first. She has worked so hard through the whole Covid period. We couldn't ask for a better team leader!!”
Leanne Joy

“Jo has been an integral part of leading our team at Huntingdon Dental Access Centre. Her level head and constant calm and organised approach has made all aspects of the centre run so smoothly. Jo has always gone above and beyond for us even more so when COVID 19 struck. Jo sprang into action organising our functional teams, implementing the SOP, listening to and acting on any concerns we had. Jo is a friendly approachable all round brilliant leader and deserves the Shine a Light award.” 
Amundeep Jandu 

What wonderful feedback, well done Jo!

Other nominations this month included:

Sandra Bragg, Health Care Assistant, Abbey View Clinic, iCaSH Suffolk
Sandra was nominated by Sue Fuller for always being warm and caring with all of their patients. Sue said: “Sandra has a wonderfully calm demeanour which patients find reassuring and the team benefits from hugely. Sandra has continued to work throughout the past year, travelling into work by train from Ipswich. As the workplace has changed dramatically since March, Sandra has adapted and faced each new challenge with a smile.

“Sandra started in the service in 1974 in the role of clerical officer for family planning, her role developed and she was service administrator for Suffolk until 2014 when she took the plunge back into a clinical role. She had started training as a naval nurse in 1974 and wanted to have patient contact again. Sandra has embraced her new role, developing skills and is an integral part of the team at the Abbey View Clinic. Her calm, positive and supportive presence has been especially appreciated by all over the past few months and we will miss her hugely when she retires at the end of the year. I would like to nominate Sandra for the shine a light award for all she has brought to the service over the last 46 years and for the support she has given the team at Abbey View through lockdown and beyond!”

Cambridgeshire School Nursing team - School Nurses, Assistant Practitioners and Administrators, CYPS 0-19 Service
The school nursing team were nominated by Emily Dobbs for delivering a fantastic service despite having to completely change their service delivery during Covid and having low staffing levels. Emily said: “As a student they have all been great in supporting my learning, particularly Lynsey Downham. They are a truly great team and always make time to help each other and offer advice for difficult cases. They have really encouraged me to develop as a practitioner and have been spurring me on through a very challenging year. Thank you all so much!!”

Caroline Gibbs, Senior Administrator/Receptionist, Governance & Resilience Team
Chris Leonard said: “Caroline has and continues to demonstrate exemplar behaviour with respect to the management of Trust HQ, particularly with her ownership of the management of activities to keep the building safe, in particular fire and associated activities. The Trust Estates and Facilities team and CBRE life would be made much easier across the whole trust portfolio if we could replicate this behaviour and attitude, with other individuals across all our sites.”

Jenny Chapman, Health Visitor, 0-19 Healthy Child Programme, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Linda Flack nominated Jenny after she participated in a co-production meeting with service users over the teams platform.  Linda said: “One parent told us of the excellent support she had received from Jenny Chapman, her health visitor. The parent felt she didn't have any knowledge of what she needed as a new parent but knew she needed some help and advice. Jenny was there to support her and her family every step of the way and able to answer her questions or signpost accordingly.”

Nina Morley, Infant Feeding Lead, 0-19 Healthy Child Programme, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Linda Flack said: “I participated in a co-production meeting with service users over the teams’ platform and one parent wanted to highlight the excellent support she had received from Nina with her baby's feeding issues. The parent didn't feel she could have managed without Nina's support.”

Mags Hirst, Play Specialist, Children's Community Specialist Nursing Service, Cambridgeshire
Mags was nominated by the family of a little girl she cares for. The nomination said: “Mags has been visiting us for a while now and after my daughter got very upset at her appointments recently and Mags offered to come along to our hospital appointments on the 23rd September and 5th October. She helped find out what was happening with our appointment and got some photos of the X-Ray machine equipment sent to us so my daughter could be prepared for her appointment. She was very good at keeping her calm and praised her when she had done well. She has been coming to her injections at home as well, to help us.

“Every time I ask Mags for her help or advice she is always there to help and support us straight away. Mags has really made our life just that bit easier and calmer while doing appointments and shown my daughter that hospital isn't always a scary place. I can't thank Mags enough for the support she has given us.”

Alison Murray, Clinical Team Leader, Cambridgeshire - Healthy Child Programme, North Locality
Jo Shirreffs nominated Alison for working tirelessly to ensure that her Retire and Return transition was as smooth as possible. Jo said: “Everything happened exactly as it should have done with no hiccups or delay in processing payments and forms. I am extremely grateful to Alison. All of this was at a time of extreme challenge and difficulty. Alison absolutely understood the importance of making sure it all happened on time. She has supported us as a family and is an incredible team manager. She lay awake worrying about my pension to ensure that I didn't. An amazing woman, she deserves the world.”

June Short, Practice Manager, Cambridge / Princess of Wales, Ely / Wisbech
Kristal Soto Hurtado and the Cambridge team nominated June for her constant dedication and hard work during the Covid-19 Pandemic, always being onsite for them, working tirelessly until late, solving problems and supporting everyone. The team said: “Even when she is busy she always takes the time to listen to us and our concerns and always shows a can do and positive attitude. We all want her to know how amazing she is!”

Ellen Adler, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, East Barnwell Health Centre, Cambridge
The mother of a little boy who Ellen cares for nominated her for all her help and support.  The nomination said: “Ms Adler was with my son when his diagnosis was confirmed as ASD in 2014. He was 3 years old and used to babble and then be silent.

“She has guided the school and the family to communicate from a non-verbal child to a child who now speaks in complete sentences. He writes, does maths and is computer savvy. This year has been a surprise for us as we are having a conversation with him. Our son, whom we absolutely love and was fearful (I was fearful) we would not hear him express his thoughts or his frustration. There was a time where he would just stand there and sob. I would not know what to do but cradle him in my arms and repeat to him that I absolutely love him.

“Ms Adler worked with us through numerous visits to the school and relaying to us the exercises we could do for and with him as a family, to support him. It worked. She always encouraged us and I do believe Ms Adler went beyond the call of duty. Ms Adler has effectively guided him to access an education in a mainstream school. I submit this nomination as a huge thank you for letting us hear his thoughts and most important of all for him to understand that we love him above all else.”

Aisha Khan, Anthony Hayward, Nargis Malik & Steven Cain, Administrators, 0-19 Admin team – supporting MASH nurses, Luton 
Alex Stanton said: “During a difficult summer, the admin staff currently supporting the MASH nurses stepped forward to meet the urgent need for administrative help. Their work has made a very positive and significant difference to the nurses working with Luton MASH. The admin support has meant that the clinicians can give much more time and focus to the needs of the vulnerable children that are referred into MASH. All the MASH clinicians have commented on the positive contribution the admin team have made.”  Here are a few of the lovely feedback messages: “Thank you so much - your work is very much appreciated and valued by all in the Safeguarding team.” “I just wanted to pass on how fantastic the admin support has been.” and “a pleasure to work with." 

So many wonderful nominations this month, well done to everyone who was nominated!