Carer wins prize for advocating patients' rights

A BRISTOL care worker is celebrating being named among the UK's best at a national award ceremony.

Sarita Birdsall, who works at Urmston House care home in Hartcliffe, was crowned Training Champion of the Year at Shaw healthcare's annual Shaw Star Awards, beating competition from thousands of staff.

Ms Birdsall, 29, was recognised for her commitment to "advocating service users' voices and rights" and her approach in dealing with one person in particular who suffers from behavioural problems and the positive impact this had.

Delighted and flattered by the award, she said: "We're so focused on caring for people, you don't think about awards or accolades, so to win came as a real shock – but a very good one.

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"It's fantastic to know what you do is so valued and seeing the difference in the individuals that we support on a day-to-day basis makes it all worthwhile."

The awards ceremony saw more than 200 of Shaw's staff gather at the Hilton Hotel in Swindon to celebrate the best care workers across its UK facilities, which employ 4,000 people in total.

Urmston House, on Hareclive Road, specialises in looking after people with physical and learning disabilities and prides itself on having with a wide range of resources and community contacts to draw upon.

Jeremy Nixey, chief executive at Shaw healthcare, said: "The Shaw Star Awards are all about celebrating the great contribution of our staff, and the hard work and dedication they show on a daily basis to ensure our standards of care are the very best that they can be.

"As an employee-owned company, we feel it's important that we acknowledge those that go above and beyond the call of duty in their care, so these awards are for them.

"I'd like to congratulate all the winners and nominees, and to thank every one of our fantastic team that continue to do us proud."

Shaw healthcare is one of the UK's leading health and social care providers.

It provides care in nursing and residential homes, hospitals, supported living arrangements and, extra care schemes. The organisation's services range from comprehensive care packages through to low level support in the community for older people and adults with physical, sensory or mental health support needs.