A team of Manchester housing support workers have been shortlisted for two Great British Care Awards.
The care team, who work with tenants in supported housing schemes at Church View in Gorton, Bates Street in Longsight, Stansby Gardens in Ardwick, Rochdale Road in Blackley, and Ryebank Road in Trafford, are in line for the Social Care Covid Hero and Housing With Care awards.
James McMahon, Ruth Shield, Wayne McDonald, Magdalena Pirog, Naysia Worell-Prentice and Joanne Mckeown, who are all support workers with the national adult health and social care charity Making Space, have been shortlisted for their high-quality service and support to tenants in the housing schemes.
They’ve also been recognised for going above and beyond during the height of the pandemic, and their “selflessness, dedication and commitment to maintaining the safety, physical and emotional wellbeing of service users and staff members,” and their “creative, innovative and flexible approach.”
And, if they take home the trophies from the North West regional ceremony at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester in November, they’ll go on to the national GBCA final in March 2023.
Isaac Diallo is the team’s manager. “The housing team cover supported housing schemes with 40 tenants,” he says. “They work so hard to help every individual. They also work within the community, liaising with local businesses for volunteering opportunities and securing funding for the schemes to run projects such as a summer house for tenants to enjoy, a vegetable garden created by tenants, healthy eating cooking groups, walking and sports groups, and much more.
“During the pandemic, they transformed themselves into a Covid task force. They remained active on the frontline to protect and promote mental health and wellbeing, and worked safely and tirelessly to ensure nobody became isolated. They constantly adapted to changing regulations and safely, strategically and successfully prioritised mental health and wellbeing to prevent people from reaching crisis point.”
Phil Orton is the chief people officer at Making Space. He says: “This team work tirelessly to support tenants every day, and during the pandemic they went even further to ensure no-one was left behind.
“Despite all the restrictions, they kept tenants connected with local communities with a purpose and sense of belonging. Their dedication and commitment are inspirational and we would love to see them recognised with these awards.”
The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events throughout the UK and are a celebration of excellence across the care sector. They pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work, from frontline staff such as care workers and care managers to people who have made an impact in other ways such as training and innovation.
