THE commitment of nursing home staff to end of life and palliative care was recognised at an awards ceremony.

The event at Leigh Sports Village was held by the Hospice in Your Care Home team from Wigan and Leigh Hospice which provides training and education in 12 nursing homes across the borough.

A total of 19 awards were handed out on a night when senior support worker at Belong Atherton, Julia Cross, took home the award for Family Nominated Staff Member of Year for the fourth year running.

Leigh Journal:

Quality Performance Officer with Wigan Council, Ann-Marie Clossick, far right, with Advance Care Planning (ACP) champion Richmond House

Leigh Journal:

Nurse of the Year award winner Jamie Duncan-Noke, Ray Deakin (lead market oversight manager, Wigan Council) and Janette Pye

Richmond House in Leigh was handed the award for Advance Care Planning (ACP) Champion in recognition of their commitment to completing ACP in which residents’ final wishes are recorded.

Registered mental health nurse at Rosebridge Court in Hindley, Jamie Duncan-Noke, was named Nurse of the Year alongside Janette Pye at Appleby Court in Wigan.

At the end of the night three homes – Appleby Court, Belong Atherton and Richmond House - were given plaques in recognition of achieving their 12-month objectives.

The ceremony recognises work done by staff in nursing homes both to improve the care they provide for residents at the end of life and to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions at the end of life.

Leigh Journal:

Staff from Belong Atherton with their plaque

Leigh Journal:

Family member Stephen Yates with staff member of the year Julia Cross and Monica McCahery (HIYCH educator)

Staff from the nursing homes all buy their own tickets priced at £10 each and the event raises some funds which go to the Hospice for patient care.

The Hospice In Your Care Home team has been a regular presence in nursing homes since November 2015 working closely with staff to provide training and equip them with the practical skills and knowledge they need to provide sensitive, timely and compassionate end of life care.

It was announced in September that the team would be expanding and as a result will be able to offer training and education in all 22 of the borough’s nursing homes.

Education programmes are delivered on how to communicate in difficult or distressing situations such as talking to residents or their families about a patient's future care needs.

Leigh Journal:

Nursing staff at the ceremony at Leigh Sports Village

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Staff are also trained in how to recognise when someone is nearing the end of their life and how to anticipate what medication and pain relief may be needed.

The 12 homes currently involved in the programme are: Ashton View Care Home in Ashton; Appleby Court Nursing Home in Pemberton; Belong Village Atherton; Dean Wood Manor in Orrell; Jah Jireh in Beech Hill; Rosebridge Court in Hindley; St George’s Nursing Home in Wigan; Richmond House Care Home in Leigh; Shawcross Care Home in Ashton; Westleigh Lodge Care Home; High Peak Lodge in Leigh and Westwood Lodge in Wigan.

The ceremony took place on Friday, October 4.

The winners are as follows:

Non-clinical staff member of the Year

Chloe Webb, activity co-ordinator at Westwood Lodge

Advance Care Planning (ACP) Champion

Richmond House

Dignity Champion

Christine Edwards, healthcare assistant at Deanwood Manor

Carer of the Year

Chris Shennon, healthcare assistant at Deanwood Manor

Senior Carer/Lead Carer of the Year

Donna Parkinson, healthcare assistant at Deanwood Manor

Nursing Assistant/CHAPS of the Year

Julie Guest RGN (registered general nurse) clinical manager and Michelle Quinn, nursing assistant, both at Westwood Lodge

Nurse of the Year

Janette Pye, registered general nurse at Appleby Court and Jamie Duncan-Noke, registered mental health nurse at Rosebridge Court

Peer Nomination

Roche Andreae, residential unit manager at Shawcross Care Home

Staff Member of the year (nominated by families/patients)

Julia Cross, senior support worker at Belong Atherton

Acknowledgement to Henry, the therapy dog

Shawcross Care Home

Committee-nominated award

Woodlands Unit at Deanwood Manor

Deputy/Support Manager of the Year

Julie Hughes, nursing assistant at St George’s

Manager of the Year

Liz Darley at Deanwood Manor

3R Award – Respect, Resilience, Reliability

Carole Charnock, manager at Appleby Court

Special Recognition Award

Michelle Crowther-Brown, senior healthcare assistant at Shawcross Care Home

Most Improved Home of the Year

Deanwood Manor

Home of the Year

Jah Jireh