Oxleas Nursing Conference reveals its Nurse of the Year
A Community Children’s Nursing Team Manager has been honoured with a top award at a nursing conference.
Caroline Chummun, Bexley and Greenwich Community Children’s Nursing Team Manager, was named as Nurse of the Year at the annual Oxleas Nursing Conference organised by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.
Trust Chief Executive, Dr Ify Okocha, who opened the event, said: “I am delighted to be here and celebrating nursing is exactly what we should be doing today.
“You are the largest professional group within the NHS and within Oxleas and what you do is hugely valued. Your spirit and passion shines through and I am enormously proud of you all and the service you provide.”
Director of Nursing, Jane Wells, said: “It is wonderful for so many of us to come together and have our conference in person and to live stream across the organisation.
“Thank you for everything you do every day for our patients and for all the support that you give to each other – always going above and beyond and every opportunity.”
Dame Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, shared a message via live stream and announced in person a posthumous Gold Chief Nursing Officer Award for Francis Adzinku.
She said: “I want to say thank you to you all for being there for each other and for the people we serve, and for everything that you continue to do. I am also honoured to recognise Francis Adzinku, who was a dedicated nurse, leader, mentor and amazing man, with a Gold Chief Nursing Officer Award for his contribution to our profession.”
Throughout the day there were presentations on wellbeing, the Trust’s Professional Nurse Advocate role, the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) and raising the nursing voice through research, culminating in our awards ceremony, where outstanding work was recognised and celebrated.
Awards were presented to:
Nurse of the Year: Caroline Chummun, Bexley and Greenwich Community Children’s Nursing Team Manager
Healthcare Support Worker of the Year: Shelley Meunier, Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team
Nursing Associate of the Year: Pippa MacGregor, HMP Exeter
Practice Assessor of the Year: Siraad Ismail, Bexley CAMHS
Placement of the Year: Millbrook Ward
Special Recognition for Bravery: Ian Tang, Healthcare Support Worker, Millbrook Ward
Humphrey Greaves Award in Recognition of Humanitarian Work (sponsored by the University of Greenwich): Cherie Trew, Team lead and Matron, Bexley Rapid Response Service
Nurse of the Year (Runner-up): Kerri Dayment, Frailty Case Manager, Greenwich Community Assessment and Rehabilitation Service
Healthcare Support Worker of the Year (Runner-up): Jane Harding, Learning Disability Team, Bexley
Nursing Associate of the Year (Runner-up): Shanna Wicanowski, Norman Ward, Green Parks House.
Jane added: “Huge congratulations to all our winners and runners-up.
“Today is a day to celebrate our profession and recognise some very special nurses. It makes me very proud to be a nurse amongst so many amazing Oxleas nurses, nursing associates and healthcare support workers.”