We are delighted to announce that our work to create carer-friendly communities for young carers in Norfolk has been shortlisted for the ‘System Led Support for Carers’ award at the HSJ Awards 2021, recognising the project’s outstanding contribution to supporting the health of carers – in what has been an exceptional and challenging period across the sector.
Despite the demanding circumstances of the past 18 months, over 1000 entries have been received for this year’s Health Sector Journal Awards, with 205 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist.
The volume and standards of applications has been a true testament to those health and social care staff, who continue to push outstanding work and transformational projects across the sector.
The judging panel was once again made up of a diverse range of highly influential and respected figures within the healthcare community, including Sir Bruce Keogh (Chair, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); Marie Gabriel CBE (Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory); and former HSJ Trust of the Year winners Ann Marr OBE (Chief Executive, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust) and Richard Mitchell (Chief Executive, Sherwood Forest Hospitals FT).
Following the intense and in-depth judging process, we were shortlisted, ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held later this year (18 November). Standing out amongst tough competition from hundreds of other exemplary applicants, our work with a range of health and social care organisations to increase awareness, identification and support for young carers in Norfolk and further afield was selected based on ambition, visionary spirit and the demonstrable positive impact that the project has had.
Through the Norfolk Young Carers Forum project, young carers as young as five years old, and young adult carers, were consistently highlighting the impact of caring on their health. They said there was not enough awareness of, or support for, young carers among health organisations across the county. We have been supporting the young carers to change this, working with health and social care organisations across Norfolk to help ensure young carers are identified and supported.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have managed to reach over 700 health and social care staff in the past two years, and over 19,000 young people and education professionals across Norfolk, including delivering awareness-raising sessions and supporting organisations to be more carer-friendly through our Carer Friendly Tick Award.
Andy McGowan, head of carer services at Caring Together said, “We are so thrilled to have been shortlisted for the system-led support for carers award.
“This recognition really does reflect the collaborative efforts and dedication of our colleagues both within Caring Together and from the partner organisations we work so closely with, who have worked so hard, particularly over the past year, to successfully deliver our aim of making Norfolk a truly carer-friendly community and ensuring that no young carer goes unidentified or unsupported.
“Knowing that there was such stiff competition this year really does make this announcement feel like a wonderful achievement for everyone involved and reflects the valuable progress that has been made on improving awareness and support of people looking after family members and friends.”
HSJ editor Alistair McLellan, said, “On behalf of all my colleagues, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Caring Together on being nominated in the category of System Led Support for Carers, in this year’s HSJ Awards. The applications we receive always present our panel of judges with a very difficult task as the standard is unfailingly high and the breadth of innovation and passion for patient care is always so inspiring.
“This year, we really have been overwhelmed with the level of entries, particularly when set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and the huge challenges faced by our health and social care workforce.
“We are therefore looking forward to welcoming all our finalists to the live ceremony in November and joining us in celebrating their incredible achievements and commitment to excellence.”
The full list of nominees for the HSJ Awards 2021 can be found on https://awards.hsj.co.uk/shortlist-2021.
The selected winners will be announced during the awards ceremony at Evolution, London on 18 November 2021
About the HSJ Awards
The most coveted accolade in UK healthcare, the HSJ awards is the largest annual benchmarking and recognition programme for the health sector. Over the last 40 years the awards have been celebrating healthcare excellence through huge political, technological and financial challenges within the sector. Through a rigorous, fair and transparent judging process the awards produce a roll call of the best organisations, teams and people in the NHS and the wider health sector.
