East Coast Community Healthcare’s (ECCH) Dietetics team were named Clinical Team of the Year at the organisation’s Staff Awards event on Friday (22^nd November) in recognition of the quality of care they provide to patients in Norfolk and Waveney.

The award was was one of sixteen presented to the staff of the Lowestoft-based social enterprise, as well as its subsidiary companies and partners within the local NHS system.

On presenting the award at The Wherry Hotel in Oulton Broad, ECCH Chief Executive Ian Hutchison said: “Dietetics is a small team with a huge caseload but their forward-thinking attitude ensures they provide the highest quality care and it indicative of ECCH’s ethos for innovation and flexibility. Through these awards, I am proud to be able to recognise those colleagues who have shown particular drive, initiative and leadership but it’s also an opportunity to thank all our staff for the fantastic work they do every day to serve our local communities.”

The award for Delivering Exceptional Care was given to Tracey Palmer, Healthcare Assistant with the Continence Team, for demonstrating clinical excellence and making patients feel at ease when discussing sensitive issues.

The Innovation Award was won by Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapist Kieran Morling who was integral to the creation of a new website for the MSK service and the use of a new app which has enabled patients to self-refer and book or change appointments themselves.

Ellen McRoberts won the Emerging Talent award. She joined ECCH six years ago as a newly qualified nurse and her ability and drive has helped her progress to the role of Community Matron.

The award for ECCH Champion, which recognises staff whose behaviour demonstrates ECCH’s values was won by People and HR Business Partner, Susannah Bridges, and Community Staff Nurse Karen Peat.

The Chair’s award was presented to Associate Director of Estates and Facilities, Sharon Warner, for the work she has done in the past year to relocate a large number of staff to a new workplace in Great Yarmouth.

As well as awards for ECCH staff, the social enterprise celebrated colleagues from other organisations who have been instrumental in helping ECCH implement collaborative projects and ways of working. The Integrated Working Award was presented to Ruth Knox, Advanced Clinical Practitioner with Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust who works with ECCH to provide a Virtual Ward which enables patients to receive hospital care in the comfort of their own homes.

The Partnership Award was given to Lowestoft Primary Care Network’s Clinical Director Lucie Barker, and Practice Manager at Bridge Road Surgery Clive Sillitoe, for their work to align the clinical systems of Lowestoft’s GP practices with those of ECCH in order to provide more responsive care for patients.

Two awards were given to staff at Cavell Healthcare, the domiciliary care provider which ECCH took over two years ago. Aron Riedmeier won Care Worker of the Year and Joanne Williams, Deputy Care Manager for Waveney, won the Outstanding Contribution Award.

Julie Hand received an Outstanding Contribution award for her work as Office Administrator at East Point Business Services, another subsidiary of ECCH.

More than £1,000 was raised through ticket sales for the event. ECCH’s Shareholder Council, which represents the 78% of staff who hold a share in the staff-owned organisation, will choose local charities to benefit from the money.