This is a very special year for us, as it marks the 30th anniversary of Concern Group! On Friday we celebrated the Group’s achievements at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, with a ceremony which included the presentation of our Employee Awards. Speakers included James Duncan, the Deputy Chief Executive of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust; and Lionel Joyce CBE OBE, a mental health pioneer and one of our founders.
From small beginnings, providing nursing care in a single dementia care home as Mental Health Concern, we have grown enormously over the last 30 years, forming Concern Group with our sister organisation, Insight Healthcare. We now provide a wide range of specialist mental health services, including 24-hour dementia care, supported housing, 24-hour rehabilitation and recovery, community wellbeing projects, and talking therapies.
Friday’s event was a celebration of Concern Group’s achievements over the past 30 years, but also an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the skill, dedication, and enthusiasm of our employees. Our organisational values are at the heart of all we do, they underpin every decision we make and guide our care for the people we serve.
Each of the Employee Awards represents one of our values; the winners and commended individuals were nominated by their colleagues for demonstrating these values in their work. There were over 300 nominations from across the organisation, providing a host of examples of our values in action. We would like to thank all of our colleagues once again for their excellent work; these awards are just a snapshot of the exceptional care provided every day across Concern Group.
The Employee Awards were presented as follows:
COMPASSION AND HOPEFULNESS AWARD
Winner
Rabiya Azami, Insight Calderdale
Commended Individuals
Andrew Dyke, Insight East Midlands
Sue O’Halleron, Coalway Lane
Greg Richardson, Supported Housing
OPEN AND FRIENDLY AWARD
Winner
Julie Merryweather, Corporate Services
Commended Individuals
Dawn Bowes, Insight Tees
Gemma Gration, Insight East Midlands
Yvonne Matthewson, Coalway Lane
INCLUSIVITY AND FAIRNESS AWARD
Winner
Sarah Marshall, Insight East Midlands
Commended Individuals
Deborah Bateman, McGowan Court
Louise Cooke, Ways to Wellness
Cathleen Cunningham, McGowan Court
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AWARD
Winner
Mary Boyle, Coalway Lane
Commended Individuals
Saeema Choudhry, Ways to Wellness
Kay Dotchin, Coalway Lane
Carl Rees, Insight Kent and Medway
HARD WORK, CREATIVITY, AND INNOVATION AWARD
Winner
Colin Smith, Pinetree Lodge
Commended Individuals
Community Challenging Behaviours Service
Natalie Eyre, Insight East Midlands
Alan Thompson, Supported Housing
GOING THE EXTRA MILE AWARD
Winner
Sam Cordery, Supported Housing
Commended Individuals
Elizabeth Bain, Corporate Services
Angela Brown, Briarwood
Amanda Comer, Insight Calderdale
A huge congratulations to you all, and to the many others who received such heartfelt nominations from your colleagues!