Learning

For teams or individuals introducing new ideas by improving the way they work, such as by improving information, communicating more clearly or promoting new ways of social inclusion.

Suzy Taylor in front of a reception desk

Suzy Taylor, winner of the 2011 Staff Recognition Awards for Learning

Winner: Suzy Taylor

Suzy joined GCHS in 2000 when she was recruited as Podiatric Service Manager and tasked with modernising the service. In 2004 she decided she’d like to be a surgeon. She studied in her own time whilst continuing to work for seven years when she became qualified. She now practices as a registrar podiatric surgeon for 15 hours a week and spends the rest of her time managing the musculoskeletal service and complex wound service.

The nominator said “She offers a very innovative, cost efficient and high quality service. All foot operations used to be performed by orthopaedic surgeons, which meant a general anaesthetic and several days in hospital. Podiatric surgeons use a local anaesthetic which is more comfortable for the patient and saves around £500 per person plus savings on hospital beds.

“Suzy is passionate about her services and supports other clinicians to develop best practice at all times.”

Lira Sejdini was highly commended in the Learning category at the 2011 Staff Recognition Awards

Highly commended: Lira Sedjini

Lira was appointed on a one year contract as Recovery Project Worker for the Greenwich Recovery and Learning Sets Project. In this time she has made an outstanding contribution. She facilitated learning sets attended by staff and service users, she organised a Recovery Review day earlier this year and she has developed, produced and edited a newsletter ‘Recovery and You’. The newsletter provides an opportunity for service users to write and share their own recovery stories. Feedback about the newsletter from service users and staff up to director level has been very positive.

“Lira has worked very closely with service users and staff. She has demonstrated excellent communication and interpersonal skills, having an ability to share her own knowledge whilst listening to others and working in partnership.”

Commended: Greenwich Therapy Service

The Greenwich Therapy Service were nominated for the work they have done to prevent the older people who use their service from becoming socially isolated which can be a big problem amongst their patients. They carried out a survey to find out what activities patients currently attend, what they would like to attend and what prevents them attending.

Then they used the results of the survey to plan an open day, which was attended by local services, staff, patients and carers. The event was so successful that a second one is being planned in the near future and they are considering widening it to include services across Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich. As a result of the event several new groups are being planned and new partnerships are in place which will help prevent social isolation. The nominator said that “the open day was just the beginning of a positive process the Greenwich Therapy Service has embarked upon which will be of enormous benefit to our service users in reducing the problem of social isolation and engagement in meaningful activity.”