Healthcare Support Worker wins prestigious national award in Shropshire first

A long-serving Healthcare Support Worker at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital has been presented with a prestigious national award.  

Claire Partridge, who works within the Practice Development Team at the Oswestry-based hospital, has won the Chief Nursing Officer’s Award for Healthcare Support Workers in the ‘commitment to quality of care’ category. 

In winning the honour, she becomes the first Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) from Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to be recognised for the prize. There are more than 153,000 HCSWs in England, with 287 of them having previously won the award – just one for every 550 in the profession – but she is the first of the 1,335 HCSWs across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin to be selected. 

Jodie Powell, Assistant Director of Nursing and Quality for NHS England – Midlands, presented the award to Claire on behalf of Professor Nina Morgan, the regional Chief Nurse.

Jodie said: “Congratulations to Claire. It was a privilege to be able to present this award, and to give it to our first ever recipient from the health system in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

“It serves as a signal of the dedication of the whole Practice Development Team at RJAH, and the strong nursing leadership at the Trust.”

Claire has worked at RJAH for more than 17 years, holding roles on numerous wards before her recent move to join the Practice Development Team.

She said: “I was shocked but proud when told I had won this award. I see it as an achievement not just for me but for all the Healthcare Support Workers at RJAH.” 

Claire was nominated for the award by Debi Clutton, Practice Development Nurse at RJAH, after her work to support both new-to-care staff and substantive staff with the practical skills and awareness to help deliver and assist with the activities of daily living prior to going on the wards.   

Debi said: “With the introduction of a new Simulation Lab, Claire had a vision to develop a training package that could empower staff with the confidence, skills and knowledge to enable them to deliver and practice high-quality hands-on care in a controlled, safe environment.”

She added: “Claire has been a gold standard asset to the team.”

Paul Kavanagh-Fields, Chief Nurse at RJAH, said: “Healthcare support workers play a really important role in caring for our patients and supporting our clinical teams. Claire is an inspiration to me and to all of her colleagues. 

“It is brilliant to see a member of our Trust recognised and celebrated for the vital work they do – well done, Claire!”