Could you be a Care Accolades winner in 2009?
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is calling for organisations that provide social services across the country to enter this year’s prestigious Care Accolades. They’re looking for entries from all social service organisations across the whole range of provision in the voluntary, private and public sectors including community services, care home services, early years, children and young people and older people services.
Launched today in Dundee, Care Accolades 2009 is a national award ceremony that gives social service organisations in Scotland the chance to get recognition of the vital work they do.
The closing date for entries is Friday 20 February 2009.
Care Accolades began in 2004 and held in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. This year’s venue is the Caird Hall, Dundee with the event taking place on Friday 5 June 2009 and hosted by popular TV presenter Kaye Adams.
The Care Accolades is a joint initiative by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Scottish Government. The 2009 Care Accolades will reward outstanding examples of excellent initiatives and projects within social services.
Minister for Children and Early Years Adam Ingram said:
“Social service workers make a big difference to people’s lives. The Care Accolades gives organisations the opportunity to get recognition for the good work they do for people in the community and I would encourage all organisations to enter.”
Sheena Gault, Head of Service, Interlink Day Services, North Ayrshire Council who were overall winners of the Care Accolades 2008 said:
“Interlink's award of a Care Accolade had a positive effect on the whole of the Community Care section. Colleagues were delighted that a part of the service had been given the recognition for the hard work and commitment that is reflected throughout Community Care in North Ayrshire. It also raised awareness of the service's work across North Ayrshire Council. We would certainly encourage others to enter the Care Accolades. It provides an opportunity to reflect on practice and celebrate innovation.”
Four new categories have been announced this year. These include - Involving our community, Leading on learning and Partnership working for adult care services and also early years and young people services.
Garry Coutts, Convener of the SSSC and Chair of the Care Accolades 2009 judging panel said:
“This is an opportunity for organisations to show off the work they do and give teams and individuals a real boost. The new categories highlight how important it is for organisations to work together and how engaging with the community, especially service users is essential to an organisations work.”
The categories for the 2009 Accolades are:
• Investing in the workforce
• Partnership working – adult care services
• Partnership working – early years and young people services
• Innovative training programme
• Involving our community
• Leading on learning
• Best social services team/unit in Scotland
• Overall winner.
For further information about the Care Accolades or to request an application pack, please phone 01382 207248/207267 or visit the SSSC website to hear from our Care Accolades 2008 finalists by watching our short film at www.sssc.uk.com
ENDS
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Pic caption: Could you be a Care Accolades winner in 2009?
The Care Accolades 2009, a national award ceremony that gives social service organisations in Scotland the chance to get recognition of the vital work they do was launched today by Alan Baird, President of the Association of Directors for Social Work (ADSW), Isobel Anderson, Care Accolades judge and Vice Chair of the Scotland Committee of Carers UK and Helen Wright, Social Work and Health Committee Convener of Dundee City Council, host city for the 2009 event.
They were joined by staff from the Dundee City Council Social Work team, winners in the 2008 Care Accolades and also representatives from the Barnardo's Scotland, FACE Project who won in 2007.
For further information or to request digital pictures from the launch please contact Nicky Scott or Vanessa Glenday from the SSSC’s communication team, on 01382 207261 or 01382 207267. For more information on the SSSC visit www.sssc.uk.com
The Care Accolades was launched in 2004 to celebrate and promote good practice in workforce development in social services across Scotland.
It is open to statutory, voluntary and private sector social service organisations, the Care Accolades. To ensure the Care Accolades is accessible to all social care organisations, each service will receive a copy of the Care Accolades application pack.
