Staff Annual Recognition Awards (SARAs)
The SARAs’ are back!
At Springfield, it’s very important to us that we take the time to recognise our teams for all their hard work and that is why we are excited to announce that our Springfield’s Staff Annual Recognition Awards (SARAs) are back! After being put on hold for two years due to the pandemic, our 2023 SARAs will be held on 28th (Homecare) and 29th June (Care Villages) to celebrate the quality of care that our individuals and teams provide and the difference they make to the lives of our residents, customers and their families.
SARAs Nominations
Nominations were open to everyone, from 19th April – 15th May, whether you live with us, work with us or are just visiting. In total, we received over 900 nominations across the 9 categories.
Joanna Putson, Homecare judge, said “It was a privilege to be involved in the shortlisting of finalists for the Sara’s and reading each and every nomination form from customers, family members, colleagues, and managers.”
“Reading nominations from customers that describe our amazing staff as ‘a real hero,’ ‘absolutely fantastic, I don’t what I would do without her’ and ‘I look forward to seeing my carer on a morning, they always puts a smile on my face, and they make a lovely omelette’ is genuinely heart-warming and makes me so proud to work with such fantastic people!”
Hayley Stubbs, Homecare judge, said “It was lovely to read such grateful comments from our customers for the care they receive and the support this brings to their day to day lives. It was also heart-warming to read specifics and extra special gestures made in the Festive Period and for Birthdays.”
Adele Burton, Care Villages judge, said “We had such a lovely day sifting through the nominations – there were hundreds of them! There were nominations from staff members, residents, residents family members and professional contacts, all of which were so heart-warming to read.
Nikki Lee-Clarke (Specialist Services Lead, Care Villages) and I both agreed that we are privileged to work with so many amazing and caring people. It’s very humbling. Every single employee does the most amazing job to enhance the lives of others and there is nothing is more skilled and beautiful than that.”
Our judges said it was extremely difficult to choose the finalists for each category, but these will be announced very soon, with finalists being invited to join the panel at Harcourt Gardens on 8th and 9th June, for coffee, cake and a chat.
Award Categories
Care Worker (Care Villages & Homecare)
This award recognises the significant role our care workers, nurses and care practitioners play in consistently providing the highest quality of care to our residents/clients. Evidence of personal dedication and teamwork will be important elements for the judges.
Care Newcomer (Care Villages & Homecare)
This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate a member of staff who has commenced a care role since 1st November 2022. They may have worked within the care sector previously (i.e. admin staff), but this must be their first care role and have shown aptitude and caring beyond that usually found in first time carers.
Care Team (Care Villages & Homecare)
This award is to recognise the team who have shown consistent ‘teamwork’, pulling together to enhance the lives of our residents/clients.
Leadership (Care Villages & Homecare)
This award is to recognise a Manager, Coordinator, Supervisor, Nurse, Senior Care Worker or a Team Leader that has shown clear commitment to improving the delivery of care and support within their team. Someone who has shown leadership qualities by reflecting on what could be better and supporting others to bring about change.
Dignity Champion (Care Villages & Homecare)
This award recognises the team worker who shows a respect for the dignity of all our residents/clients. They demonstrate this consistently and champion this among the rest of the care team.
Front Line Leaders Award (Homecare)
This award recognises the hard work and dedication of members of the following teams: reception, wellbeing & activities, hospitality, admissions/assessments, occupancy/enquiry, and regional team support (eg. marketing, specialist services, medications, dementia & wellbeing etc). The person will have shown attention to detail, efficiency and caring in all they do and without their help, carers would not be able to do the work they do.
Support Team Member – Front of House (Care Villages)
This award recognises the hard work and dedication of members of the following teams: housekeeping, HR, maintenance, finance (in the home or regional support), kitchen, and training. The person will have shown attention to detail, efficiency and caring in all they do and without their help, carers would not be able to do the work they do.
Support Team Member – Back of House (Care Villages)
This award recognises the hard work and dedication of members of the following teams: reception, wellbeing & activities, hospitality, admissions/assessments, occupancy/enquiry, and regional team support (eg. marketing, specialist services, medications, dementia & wellbeing etc). The person will have shown attention to detail, efficiency and caring in all they do and without their help, carers would not be able to do the work they do.
Palliative Care/End of Life Care (Homecare)
This award will be given to the person who demonstrates how special and professional they have to be to be able to support someone who is at the end of their life. They should be able to explain the training they have had to take on this role and how important dignity and respect is at this time. They should also explain how they can support the family and friends during this difficult time.
