The National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards were set up to celebrate people who provide excellent care and support to people with learning disabilities and autism. Shortlisted nominees are invited to attend an interview with an independent panel of judges, before attending a gala event at the end of June when the winners will be announced.
Cygnet Manor is a high dependency complex care service for men with learning disabilities and complex mental health needs, located in Shirebrook, Nottinghamshire.
Asha Osborne, Cygnet Manor’s Specialist Speech and Language Therapist has made it to the final of the Breaking Down Barriers Individual Award. The award celebrates an individual who has worked to make sure people get clear information and are able to contribute their views and experiences.
Asha said: “I am very honoured to have been nominated for the Breaking Down Barriers Award. I strive each day to support the individuals in my care to access a world that promotes their inclusion. I would not be able to do my job without the incredible support of the team around me, who push me to achieve my best each day.”
Louise Bentley is a finalist in the Support Worker Award category. This award recognises the crucial role of the support worker in providing high quality support for people with a learning disability and/or autism.
Louise said: “I am incredibly grateful and appreciative of my nomination and making the finals. The opportunity fuels my desire to become the best I can be for our service users and the unit as a whole.”
The Cygnet Manor team have also made it to the shortlist of finalists for the Positive Risk Taking Award. This award recognises a person centred organisation who have embedded an ethos of positive risk taking into their approach to care and support, with the aim of maximising choice, control and independence.
Last, but not least, Cygnet Manor are also finalists in the Employer Award. This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an exceptional employer who is committed to their employees delivering an excellent service to people with learning disabilities or people with autism and their families.
Kelly Shortt, Hospital Manager, said: “I am extremely proud of the whole team at Cygnet Manor, they all work so hard to provide the best quality of care to the service users we support and each other. It is amazing that alongside the team awards we have both Louise and Asha who have also individually reached the finals. It is a great testament to how amazing and caring they both are. I could not be prouder of them all.”
The National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards will take place across three regions in 2023. The England and Scotland awards gala will take place at the ICC in Birmingham on 30th June. More information about the awards can be found here.
Congratulations and good luck to Asha, Louise and the rest of the Cygnet Manor team!