Croydon Primary Care Trust scooped the top honour at the Guardian Public Services Awards 2007 last night. Their 'Virtual Wards' project has transformed the way in which preventative care is delivered in Croydon. The scheme has helped more than 1,000 vulnerable people in Croydon, and is now being adopted across the UK.
Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who was presenting the awards, said "The judges felt that Croydon's Virtual Wards was a real breakthrough that holds out the prospect of positive and lasting change in health and social care."
There was also a special individual award presented to Martin Jackaman for his work in transforming public conveniences for disabled people in Nottingham
OVERALL WINNER: Croydon Primary Care Trust
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR
Martin Jackaman, Day Service Modernisation Manager, Nottingham City Council
Service Delivery
Children’s Services
London Borough of Lambeth
‘X-it’ is an innovative project providing an effective alternative to young people in Lambeth at risk of involvement with gangs, guns and knives. It directly targets young people at risk of social exclusion, one of the hardest groups to reach.
Complex Needs
Leeds Survivor Led Crisis Service
The organisation was established in 1999 by a group of service users, who campaigned to develop the service. The service was set up to be a place of sanctuary and an alternative to hospital admission and statutory services for people in acute mental health crisis.
Long Term Conditions
Academic Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary
Patients go through better and worse periods of rheumatoid arthritis and therefore need access to health care at different times, dependent on their status. The ‘Direct Access’ project aims to put patients in control, and deliver the best support when most needed.
Care of Older People
Tameside & Glossop PCT
This scheme promotes independence by providing sensitive, personalised care to vulnerable people in their own homes, whilst reducing inappropriate, unnecessary hospital transfers.
Housing
Wychavon District Council
Wychavon promotes a creative new scheme to help with the growing housing shortage and provide exceptional customer service. The scheme promotes downsizing for residents who no longer need their large rented house, as children have flown the nest, or who are no longer able to live in their home without major modifications, such as stair lifts or downstairs bathrooms.
Transport
Centro – West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority
WorkWise was implemented after a critical need was identified to help unemployed people – who do not have a car – gain access to a wide range of facilities including training, attending interviews and finding employment. Operating within the West Midlands, the project has helped over 4,000 unemployed people get back into work and stay there.
Innovation and Progress
Sustainability
Bulky Bob’s, Liverpool
Bulky Bob’s Ltd is an innovative bulky household waste collection, refuse and recycling service offered to residents in various local authority areas across the North West.
Transformation
Croydon PCT
The ‘Virtual Wards’ project has transformed the way in which preventative care is delivered in Croydon for people with long-term conditions, and is now being adopted across the UK. Virtual wards use all of the systems, staffing and day-to-day routine of a hospital ward to provide multidisciplinary care to people in their own homes.
Customer Service
Terrence Higgins Trust, Leeds
THT set up a ‘Fastest’ clinic in Leeds in August 2006. One of the first of its kind to offer a rapid, drop-in sexual health service for university students and young people.
Joined-Up Government
Department for Work & Pensions
The Customer and Acquisitions Directorate has worked proactively with a range of partners across government to transform the approach to tackling pensioner poverty and delivering value to those most in need.
Diversity and Equality
Accent Community Partnerships, West Yorkshire
Since 1997 Accent Community Partnerships has worked to help traditionally excluded groups gain access to training and employment in industries in which they are underrepresented. Its innovative YouthBuild project has significantly increased the representation of ethnic minorities and women going into the construction sector.
Finance and Procurement
Hampshire County Council, South East Centre of Excellence Major Framework (SECE)
The SECE Major Framework streamlines procurement processes delivering improved performance and efficiencies. On behalf of SECE, Hampshire County Council has pioneered a new approach to procuring and managing this work.
Good Citizenship
Sheffield University Students’ Union
Sheffield University Students’ Union launched ‘Sheffield Volunteering’, a flagship project that has placed over 1100 youth volunteers into work schemes in the community.