Care enterprise in line for top awards (From Swindon Advertiser)

Care enterprise in line for top awards

7:10pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Matthew Edwards

STAFF at SEQOL are celebrating its first year with a string of accolades and recognitions.

The social enterprise delivers a range of community health and adult social care services to residents of Swindon.

It has been shortlisted for a national award, as well gaining recognition from an MP.

SEQOL’s dementia team, based at the enterprise’s specialist dementia residential homes Whitbourne House and Fessey House, has been shortlisted for the South West Great British Care awards.

Staff will head to The Passenger’s Shed, at Brunel’s Old Station, Bristol, on November 16 to hear whether they will go on to the national finals.

They are also finalist the Health Service Journal’s national Managing Long Term Conditions category.

SEQOL’s operations director, Jan Trethewey, said: “Our teams work really hard to support people to live their lives as they wish to, and explore every opportunity to enable people to be cared for at home. The HSJ award is national recognition for their professionalism and skills.”

Now Minister For The Cabinet Office Francis Maude has announced that SEQOL has been appointed to its Mutuals Ambassador programme, under which new and existing mutuals across England will be given a helping hand from 15 individuals nominated as ambassadors.

SEQOL’s chief executive Heather Mitchell and engagement manager Katie Taylor-Neale have both been appointed as ambassadors.

“The ambassador programme will allow us to return the support we had during our set up and will enable colleagues from SEQOL to share their experience of developing an employee-owned organisation and in delivering and improving health and social care services,” said Katie.

Professor Julian Le Grand, of the London School of Economics, who attended the launch, added his congratulations on SEQOL’s first year.

“SEQOL’s success means better health and social care services for the people of Swindon but more than this it is an inspiration to public servants across the country,” he said.