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The local staff awards are popular across all Directorates and HSCPs as they enable all areas to recognise and show appreciation to colleagues who have gone the extra mile. Everyone can give their own examples where amazing care or services have been delivered under hugely challenging conditions and staff have nominated the colleagues who they think most deserve recognition for their stand-out efforts, skills and commitment.

Presentations have been held in each local Directorate and HSCP to award the winners in categories including Employee of the Year, Team of the Year, Leader of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Volunteer of the Year, with the overall winners announced at the Celebrating Success Staff Awards Event on 28th May 2025.

You can find out more about each of the nominees in each category below.

The winners will also be announced live on the night on our social media channels (follow the #ggcawards tag).

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Acute Services – Clyde Sector

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Same Day Admission Unit (SDAU) RAH

The SDAU team works collaboratively to ensure patients are at the forefront of everything they do, deliver the best care, avoid delays for theatres, and provide support to other services.

SDAU is a Monday to Friday elective surgery unit, comprising 14 trolleys and 2 chair establishment.  At present the unit is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week due to bed challenges on-site.

The team’s responsiveness was evident when the unit accommodated eight patients each night throughout January, supporting the hospital by easing pressure on wards to allow flow, and enabling surgeries to continue despite service challenges.

Employee of the Year

Megan Shand, Assistant Management Accountant, Finance

Megan has been a huge support for the Older People and Stroke Services team, working closely with the Clinical Service Managers and Lead Nurses to assist the directorate. She has a fantastic understanding of the services and proactively queries aspects with the team.

Megan has supported new team members in learning how to manage budgets and analyse reports, and this has contributed significantly to building financial knowledge and confidence within the team.

Leader of the Year

Dr Gautam Ray, Consultant Physician, Acute Medicine, RAH

Gautam was instrumental in setting up the Quality Improvement Den at the RAH in 2018. This opportunity has now been expanded to support colleagues across the Clyde sector.

The Den provides assistance and guidance for colleagues to pursue QI projects across a wide range of services, resulting in a skilled workforce and valuable improvements to patient care.

Cohort 7 is now underway, and over the years since the Den commenced, in excess of 127 colleagues have participated in it, delivering a broad range of improvement projects and encouraging a culture of continuous improvement across Clyde sector.

Innovation of the Year

The Apple Clinic : Pre-habilitation & Rehabilitation for cancer and surgical patients  (Mhairi Burke & Elaine Crookston, Physio, IRH)

The Service was expanded to IRH in Dec 2023, enabling a sector-wide approach for Pre-habilitation.  During the past year, this has extended to include a Rehabilitation phase post-surgery and during other cancer treatments. In addition, a pilot model was introduced to educate family members on how to support their loved ones

The Clinic is a sustainable model, embedding research, and engaging nursing and AHPs trained in exercise, health advice, cognitive behavioural therapy. This approach has reduced complications, shortened hospital stays, improved post-surgical recovery. The initial clinic has supported 50-60 IRH patients and families. IRH is the only site now consistently delivering prehab/rehab in West of Scotland Cancer Network.

Volunteer of the Year

David Roy, AHP Rehab Support Volunteer & Rainbow Garden Volunteer, IRH

David’s primary role is as a Rehabilitation Support Volunteer, working on a weekly basis on the Stroke ward at the IRH Larkfield Unit.

He works alongside the AHP team, supporting patients to enhance their mobility and recovery. In addition, David provides companionship and support, to help promote patient’s mental health and well-being.

David is also a volunteer member of the Rainbow Garden, where he helps keep this valuable therapeutic outdoor space clean and tidy alongside his fellow volunteers.

The unwavering support and encouragement David provides in both his roles is hugely appreciated by patients and colleagues alike.

Acute Services – North Sector

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

North Frailty Team

The North Frailty Team is a multidisciplinary group dedicated to improving care for older adults with frailty. Working alongside ED and AAU, they streamline patients to a specialist unit for timely Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGA). Their innovative pathway has reduced the median length of stay from 16 to 11 days without increasing readmission rates. They introduced a CGA Huddle, integrating community teams to support early discharge.

Their commitment to person-centered care, collaboration, and overcoming resistance to change has enhanced hospital flow and patient outcomes. Patient feedback highlights their compassionate and high-quality approach, demonstrating that getting care right for older adults benefits everyone. Their dedication and teamwork make them truly deserving of this award.

Employee of the Year

Trisha Cairney, Health Care Support Worker

Tricia, a Health Care Support Worker at Ward 43 (Cardiology) in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, goes above and beyond in patient care and ward support. Despite the demands of a busy cardiology unit, she takes on additional responsibilities, including clinical audits, ordering resources, organising repairs, and infection control checks.

Her contributions have significantly improved ward performance in external audits. Tricia’s kindness and compassion make her a favourite among patients, bringing joy in their most difficult moments. A true team player, she supports colleagues selflessly and enhances the ward’s daily operations. Her dedication, quality, and teamwork embody NHSGGC’s values, making her an outstanding role model and a truly deserving award winner.

Leader of the Year

Evelyn Taylor, Specialist Occupational Therapist

Evelyn has been a dedicated and integral member of the Occupational Therapy and AHP team at Glasgow Royal Infirmary for over a decade. A skilled practitioner and mentor, she supports staff development and has driven service improvements, particularly in Anxiety Management for COPD patients. Her work has reduced hospital admissions and facilitated complex discharges, empowering patients to manage their conditions.

Evelyn’s leadership, mentorship, and innovative approach have strengthened the OT service, earning her widespread respect. Her compassion, calmness, and unwavering support for colleagues make her a role model. Despite not holding a formal leadership role, her leadership influence is profound, shaping patient care and team development. Evelyn’s dedication, kindness, and professionalism make her a truly deserving award recipient.

Innovation of the Year

Elisabeth Waterhouse and Denise Carrigan – Practice Development Adult Acute Dietetics

The Dietetics team addressed recruitment challenges by redesigning the interview process to improve accessibility, inclusivity, and candidate experience. They introduced an online ‘meet and greet’ after work hours and provided support around interview questions, reducing candidate anxiety and improving response quality. Feedback from three interview cycles was overwhelmingly positive, with applicants feeling more supported and engaged.

Applications tripled, with a reserve list established to streamline future hiring. The initiative promotes dignity, respect, and neurodiversity while strengthening workforce planning. Recognised as best practice, this innovative approach has been shared across the AHP community, ensuring a more diverse, prepared, and sustainable workforce.

Volunteer of the Year

Lou Murphy, PA to the GM for Medical Specialties North Sector

Lou has been a key participant of the North Civility Saves Lives group, working to improve workplace relationships by promoting civil, caring, and compassionate interactions. She has facilitated focused awareness raising sessions across various departments, including meetings with consultants, junior doctors, and administrative teams. Her sessions encourage staff to reflect on their own behaviours and the impact of rudeness in the workplace.

Lou’s proactive efforts have been met with positive feedback, as she fosters discussions on promoting civility and reducing incivility. Her work exemplifies the values of dignity, respect, openness, and responsibility, contributing significantly to continuing to make the North and NHSGGC a better place to work.

Acute Services – South Sector

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Surgical Immediate Assessment Unit (IAU) , QEUH

The department is staffed by a combination of Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs), Band 5 nurses, and Surgical Nurse Practitioners, with additional support from Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and medical staff. This team works tirelessly to assess and implement the care needs of patients referred for surgical assessment by their GPs. They typically see a range of 730 to 750 patients per month and successfully discharge nearly half of them within four hours. Most discharges from the department occur between four and eight hours after arrival.

The team also runs Hot Clinics to ensure that patients do not remain in the hospital longer than necessary. If further tests are required, they arrange for patients to return for those procedures.

This exceptionally hardworking team deserves recognition for their contributions to unscheduled care.

Patient experience is significantly improved as most patients are seen within the four-hour target. Additionally, discharging patients to Hot Clinic slots reduces unnecessary waiting times for tests in an already busy department. This ensures that results can be discussed quickly after testing, allowing for effective further care planning.

The team is focused and driven, placing patients’ safety and well-being as their top priority.

Employee of the Year

Claire Westland (SCN) and Heather Bingham (SCN), Ward 7A , QEUH

Heather and Claire created an inhaler education station in the ward, which they updated monthly. They provided resources, quizzes, stickers, and QR codes for further learning. They collaborated with Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and representatives to ensure they shared best practices and organised education days for the ward staff.

This initiative served as an excellent resource for the staff. In recent years, the variety of inhalers has increased significantly, and due to COVID-19 and staffing shortages, accessible education has been limited. Their educational resources offered a quick and convenient way to enhance staff knowledge. It was also shared with other respiratory wards and received a positive response.

Overall, this work improved patient care by enhancing staff understanding of inhalers, their functions, and proper inhaler techniques. This ultimately led to better administration for patients and increased understanding and usage, thus improving health outcomes.

Leader of the Year

Laura Campbell, SCN, Ward 8A, QEUH

Laura is a senior charge nurse on Ward 8A at QEUH, an acute care ward for older patients. She has demonstrated excellent leadership skills and a strong commitment to quality improvement within the ward, particularly regarding staff morale, infection control, and the overall standards of patient care.

After transferring from another area, Laura took the initiative to promote a more positive working environment, which led to improved audit scores and enhanced infection control standards. Her ability to enhance staff morale and motivation, as well as care and infection control standards, has been remarkable.

Laura’s dedication to the Older People’s Services Support team is evident each day and she has worked tirelessly to make significant improvements.

Innovation of the Year

Gill Reader, SCN, Acute Receiving Unit 5, QEUH

Gill led the development of the GGC: 322 Philips Cardiac Monitoring and Basic Rhythm Interpretation module, which is now a part of the LearnPro training platform.

This new module is designed to enhance staff training and education for caring for patients who require monitoring.

Gill also provided training in these essential skills, which will support staff in delivering quality care. The module is beneficial for staff development, allowing them to enhance their existing skills and learn new ones. It is now available organisation-wide on LearnPro, making it accessible to all staff. This resource is transferable to any department that requires ECG monitoring, representing a valuable opportunity for professional development and learning across all teams.

Diagnostics

Overall Winner Nominees

Employee of the Year

Jason Crooks, Operational Services Manager, Diagnostic Imaging

Jason, is an extremely hard working and experienced administration manager who took up his post of Operational Services Manager in December 2023.

Jason has over the last year made significant changes to ensure our performance monitoring and data is accurate. to support this he has developed a number of dashboards and systems to support the whole imaging team manage performance accurately. For example:  Cancer tracking dashboard, Reporting discrepancy dashboard, a new share point site for imaging, Methods to meticulously manage Access and cancer funds.

Team of the Year

Radionuclide Dispensary

The Radionuclide Dispensary (RND) manufactures radiopharmaceutical medicines for Nuclear Medicine Departments across five Health Boards covering 60% of the Scottish patient population.

The current RND facility is isolated on the former Western Infirmary General site in Glasgow. It has continued to operate through demolition of the WIG and the redevelopment of Glasgow University. The facility, while supported remotely, remains isolated.

The building has significant operational and logistical challenges and is unable to support necessary changes in technology and equipment.

The MHRA has a focus on the service, with bi-monthly scrutiny.

There is an immense amount of pressure on the RND team to deliver a safe daily service to patients on a cancer pathway. For almost 10 years they have continued to manufacture and deliver radiopharmaceuticals to approximately 40,000 patients per year. In the most difficult of conditions, in the middle of a building site, managing a highly specialised service.

Regardless of the many challenges they have faced over this time, the team has delivered a safe patient service.

Leader of the Year (Joint Winners)

Andrew Reilly, Scientific Director

Andrew has integrated the clinical scientific service (DCPB) providing patient care for patients across the West of Scotland.

He has raised the profile of health care science both at local level and at National level.He advises the CMO as a Clinical Physics expert and is the IPEM Vice President Scotland, giving his energy to demonstrating the importance of health care science in patient care.

Despite being pulled in many directions Andrew always makes time for staff. He is welcoming and supportive, staff have direct access to him, giving freely of his time and wisdom in a kind and caring way.Focused and innovative, stimulating discussion opening the door to new ideas. He is very clear that no idea is a bad idea.

Over the last 18 months Andrew has supported the two areas where there has been no head of service – Radiotherapy Physics and Nuclear Medicine ensuring the clinical service was supported.He also lead the Radionuclide Dispensary and PET Production through pressurised MHRA and HSE inspections, supporting the whole way.

Andrew did all of this while recovering from an illness part way through the year. Many folk were not aware of this.His dedication and commitment to staff and patients is incredible always putting others first.

Nicola Wyllie, Senior Charge Nurse

Nicola is a patient focused Clinical Nurse Specialist who has been heavily involved with the Corporate Practice Development team and has developed educational videos on the care and maintenance of individual indwelling vascular devices these are now available on You Tube video to assist with the education and training of Nursing and medical staff across the NHSGGC health board.

In addition a competency framework is being developed for all staff who access specific vascular devices for administration of IV therapies. This competency framework will provide assurance that staff are appropriately skilled in the care and maintenance of vascular devices and ensure patients have the best care possible.

Innovation of the Year

Toxicology & Theraputic Drug Monitoring Service

Scottish drug-related deaths statistics show that drug misuse continues to be a significant problem. This has a direct impact on healthcare, including patients seeking help for drug use in primary care and hospital admissions across NHSGGC.

The Glasgow City Alcohol and Drug Partnership approached the QEUH Toxicology Team to discuss modernising drug screening; specifically, requesting an ability to detect a wider range of drugs.

As no commercial test kit was available to cover the range of drugs required, the Toxicology team developed a novel drug screen designed for local service users’ needs which was instrumental in the fight against drug-related deaths.  Their innovation was a direct result of their ability to harness their collective brain power, knowledge, skills and experience to produce a transformative solution that benefited patients. The epitome of teamwork!

To date, over 14,000 patient samples have been screened using this test. A recent survey showed that service users agree that the extended screen they have developed has significantly improved patient management and had a positive impact on the population.

East Dunbartonshire HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Innovation of the Year

Community Health and Care Services – Community Treatment and Care Service (CTAC) Team 

The CTAC Team have been fundamental in the roll out of the programme for self-administration of B12 injections and have taught around 160 patients to take ownership of their long term condition. These patients have found that they have more independence and can receive their medication at a time that is more appropriate for them, or they can have a friend or family member administer it once they’ve been taught by CTAC staff. The aim of this innovation is to encourage patients to take over this aspect of their care and using values based conversations have given the patients independence and flexibility. These appointments will now be absorbed by the service and realigned to patients for other interventions or for those who are unable to self-administer. 

Innovation of the Year

Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Trauma Training Team

Clinicians across Tier 4 who were trained as trainers for the CAMHS NES Trauma Training package, and helped roll out this training across Tier 4 CAMHS as part of the CAMHS Pilot. Helped Tier 4 CAMHS services think about their practise and work towards becoming trauma informed services. Clinicians gave their time over 2 years to deliver the CAMHS NES Trauma Training package to all clinicians in Tier 4 CAMHS and deliver Sowing Seeds workshops to Business Support staff across Tier 4 and Hosted CAMHS services, as part of the CAMHS Pilot of this roll-out. In addition clinicians met with all Tier 4 CAMHS services to complete the Trauma Lens tool to help them think about their practise and develop a plan to further develop trauma informed practise in their services looking at: Choice, Collaboration, Safety, Trust and Empowerment. This was then reviewed with each services at the 2 year mark to evaluate the pilot and to help services develop a further plan to continue moving forward with trauma informed thinking and practise. Staff also provided Trauma Thinking Space groups for Tier 4 staff to allow for protected space to think about changes they might want to make and share practise across Tier 4. Clinicians adapted the NES Trauma Training Package, with approval and sign off from NES, to create a 1 day package to better meet the training needs of our inpatient staff and to allow for easier roll out when having to consider shift working. Clinicians supported senior staff to complete the Trauma Quality Improvement Framework to help thinking more widely about trauma informed practise. Considering HR policy, recruitment and wider service consideration such as paperwork, record keeping, standardised letters etc. All this was only possible due to the amazing support from Business Support in regards to keeping track of who attended training, printing out training packages and ensuring training days were well organised. 

Innovation of the Year

Oral Health Directorate Lifelong Smiles Programme  

This was an initiative designed to improve patient attendance at dental service appointments and increase the number of patients opting for alternatives to general anaesthesia. 

This was a collaborative effort between the Public Dental Service, Children and Families, and Oral Health Improvement Teams aims to enhance both patient and staff experiences while reducing appointment waiting times. 

Supported by Q Exchange funding the following was developed – Training for dental health support workers:  

A new training package has been developed to educate young people and families about various treatment options.  

This training includes practical elements and focuses on enhancing transferable skills such as active listening and collaborative decision-making with families. 

Innovative information resources:  To reduce dental anxiety and improve engagement, a package of information has been created for young people and families. This includes a series of four videos accompanied by written information, designed to prepare children and their parents or guardians for dental examinations, x-rays, and inhalation sedation. 

Improved access and engagement: Families benefited from interactive sessions with team members at health centres, making it easier for them to access the care they need. 

East Renfrewshire HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Community Treatment and Care service

This nurse-led team deliver a range of services including ear care and wound care management.  

The team are tasked to provide support to GP Practices, and to help reduce treatment waiting times for patients.

As part of this, they came up with an innovative new phlebotomy service called ‘Bloods and Go’.

The service operates in both Eastwood and Barrhead Health Centre and all 15 GPs in the authority can refer in. Since it launched in mid-June 2024, the service has taken bloods from over 10,000 patients and reduced waiting times for blood tests from days to just minutes!

Employee of the Year

Marion Evans

Marion is the one and only Business Support staff member for the very busy Community Mental Health Team.

She manages a varied workload in a fast-paced environment, looking after all business support needs for the service. Marion is exceptionally skilled and compassionate with service users, who often present in stress and distress.

Nothing is too much trouble for Marion, despite how busy she is. She is often approached by colleagues in other teams for help and she will always go above and beyond, without hesitation, to support them or offer advice.

Leader of the Year

Andrew Cuthbertson, Team Manager, Learning Disability Team

The LD team comprises a range of professions including social work, nursing, psychiatry, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and health care support workers.

Andrew has overall responsibility for the team, meaning he manages both Council and NHS staff, and this does require a specific skill set to ensure that the team works as one.

Andrew leads by example. His own passion, core values, calmness, positivity, integrity, work ethic and good humour are some of the attributes that make him an outstanding leader.

He is highly regarded and respected by colleagues, providers and the people we support.

Innovation of the Year

Fiona Gibson, Laura Herron and Amy Loveday 

Occupational Therapist Fiona Gibson, Nurse Laura Herron and Assistant Practitioner Amy Loveday sit within the Older Person Mental Health Team and have been focused on stress and distress reduction in care homes.

Their integrated approach makes them the only team of its kind in GGC. Their innovative approach has:

  • Reduced the number of referrals and discharges within care home liaison service by 50%
  • Achieved a 50% reduction in the number of care residents with dementia on antipsychotic medication
  • Provided training to 101 care home staff 
  • Prevented 14 care home placement breakdowns
  • Prevented 9 psychiatric admissions
  • Significantly reduced duty contact

Volunteer of the Year

Aileen Kane

Aileen has been fundraising for four decades. She starting with baking and selling cakes to her neighbours and over the years, her efforts have grown to include unique and joyful activities, such as walking with her family in tutus to raise funds.

She is also a walk leader, supporting people to get out and about. She has created a close-knit, supportive community and makes everyone feel welcome. For the past three years, she has organised a special Children in Need walk at Rouken Glen park, featuring memorable elements like a piper and a choir.

Going the Extra Mile

Mark Mulhern and Noleen McCormick

The duo won this award for continuously going the extra mile in their roles, displaying a positive can-do attitude and for regularly stepping outside their roles and responsibilities to support individuals, the health and social care workforce, and a wide range of partners across East Renfrewshire.

Mark is our Carers Lead and Noleen the HSCP Self Directed Support Implementation Manager and they have very busy day jobs.

Over the last 18 months, in addition to their substantive posts, Noleen and Mark have stepped up to support the Partnership with internal and external engagement, making a significant difference to our communities.

Wellbeing Champion

Claire Blair, Health Improvement Lead – Mental Health & Recovery 

Claire is the ultimate champion for highlighting, advocating and supporting the health and wellbeing of the entire health and social care workforce.

Her kind, person-centred and empathetic personality helps bring people together. Claire has supported many colleagues through difficult times by being a listening ear, and sharing wisdom.

She also work in partnership with a number of organisations to support the delivery of wellbeing supports.

All of the judges were impressed by Claire’s ability to lead by example. She prioritises her own health and wellbeing, remaining resilient and positive, practices self-care, and makes use of wellbeing activities and resources.

Outstanding Contribution Award

Anne Marie Kennedy, MBE

At 86 years young, Anne Marie makes a substantial impact on people’s lives, volunteering a significant amount of her time, energy, knowledge and personality in supporting a wide range of individuals and services.

She shares her voice, opinion, and lived experience, alongside advocating for those who may not have the opportunity to do so.

She is the Chair of local charity, the wee red bus service, which transported 2145 residents to medical appointments in 2024 – that’s 4290 single journeys made by volunteer drivers.

Each year she organises a special volunteer celebration event and she is truly one of a kind.

Chief Officers Award

The Community Rehabilitation Service 

The service demonstrates that fully integrated health and social care services create better outcomes for the people we support, and efficiencies.

This multidisciplinary team provide exceptional care, strive for excellence and are forward-thinking. They are also the only fully integrated service of its kind across NHSGGC.

Referrals have increased by 80% over the past six years and they have adapted to be able to manage this increased workload, and have modified their service to be able to meet the needs of our ageing population.

They’ve been central to the HSCP’s approach to reduce the number of avoidable hospital admissions.

eHealth

Overall Winner Nominees

Team Of The Year

eHealth and Clinical Teams involved in Ophthalmology Digital Patient Record

Commissioned by Scottish Government and in collaboration with clinical representatives from all Health Boards, eHealth National and Contractor Services, Information Management, Electronic Patient Record and Health Records teams worked together to develop and successfully implement the Ophthalmology Digital Patient Record and system.

This has been implemented across all NHSGGC Ophthalmology sites to connect primary and secondary eye care and enable transfer of patients between health boards. With the introduction of OpenEyes to NES Glaucoma Accredited Trained Community Optometrists, 749 patients have had their follow up care transferred to an Optometrist Practice near to their home.

Employee Of The Year

Alan Walker

Alan led and supported the testing and implementation of safer medicines projects including HEPMA and Pharmacy Stock Management (PSM). These are highly complex projects requiring extensive testing to ensure clinical and patient safety ahead of roll out. Alan has been commended for his approach and onsite support to clinical services through the implementations and embedding in business-as-usual practice.

Leader Of The Year

Lin Calderwood

Lin led key NHSGGC and national programmes of work including Ophthalmology Digital Patient Record and ANIA Digital Dermatology culminating in NHSGGC being the first Board to adopt both applications. Working with eHealth, clinical and wider ophthalmology service colleagues Lin led a positive and cohesive approach throughout.

Innovation Of The Year

eHealth Electronic Patient Record and Practice Development Nursing Teams

The collaborative effort of eHealth teams working closely with frontline staff to design and build patient centred nursing documentation tools within TrakCare. This project resulted in the completion of the nursing admission record, selection of risk assessments and a patient centred care plan. This reduces paper/scanning, supports audit activity and meets Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) recommendations.

Estates and Facilities

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Facilities Training Team

The Facilities Training Team has demonstrated exceptional dedication and teamwork, earning them the title of Team of the Year. This team has revolutionised the induction process for new facilities staff within GG&C by developing a comprehensive Corporate Facilities Induction Programme. Their innovative approach ensures that all new staff undergo a centralized three-day induction, covering essential policies, procedures, and mandatory training modules as well as delivering effective, practical training that will help them settle in their new roles. This program not only equips new employees with the necessary skills and knowledge but also provides a supportive environment for them to address any concerns before starting their roles as well as giving them a qualification they can use in future.

The team’s collaborative efforts have significantly improved the recruitment and onboarding process, ensuring consistency and high standards across the operational departments. Their commitment to enhancing the experience and skills of new employees has had a profound impact on the organisation. By working together and supporting each other, the Facilities Training Team has set a benchmark for excellence, making a lasting difference for both staff and patients.

Employee of the Year

Gerry Mather

Gerry Mather, a Project Manager within the Property & Capital Planning team, has been instrumental in ensuring the successful relocation of services from WGACH. He has been the primary contact for contractors refurbishing new locations, demonstrating excellent communication, negotiation, and persuasive skills. Gerry’s ability to maintain strong relationships with service leads and include all service and clinical requirements has been commendable.

Known for his calm demeanour and can-do attitude, Gerry is always ready to deliver a smile and tackle multiple tasks simultaneously. His dedication and positive approach have made him an invaluable asset to the department. As he retires at the end of March, this award would be a fitting tribute to his contributions. Gerry has also mentored junior project managers, sharing his wealth of experience and ensuring the continued success of the team. His efforts have significantly benefited patients and staff through improved facilities and service delivery.

Leader of the Year

Fiona Warnock-Greer

Fiona Warnock Greer, a Senior Project Manager within the Capital Planning team, has exemplified outstanding leadership through her management of the Parkhead Hub project, the largest primary care facility in the UK. Fiona’s dedication and teamwork have been instrumental in ensuring the project’s success, collaborating closely with diverse stakeholders, including HSCP, clinical areas, estates, facilities, design teams, contractors, and NHS Assure. Her leadership was particularly evident during the commissioning of the water system, where she established a short-life working group to ensure the highest standards were met. Fiona’s ability to navigate complex challenges, maintain clear communication, and foster a collaborative environment has been crucial in delivering a safe and functional facility.

Her proactive approach and commitment to excellence have earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues. Fiona’s leadership has not only ensured the successful completion of the Parkhead Hub but also set a benchmark for future projects within the organisation.

Innovation of the Year

Brian Droy

Brian Droy, a CAD Operator within Operational Estates, has demonstrated exceptional innovation through his development of two critical pieces of equipment. Utilising his CAD skills, Brian designed an En-Suite emergency unlock tool for bathrooms and a transport cage for robots in the QEUH basement. These innovations have significantly supported both clinical and portering staff. The emergency unlock tool is particularly noteworthy, as it is being considered by other boards for its potential to provide immediate support to clinical colleagues during emergencies.

Brian’s proactive approach and ability to identify and address practical needs have made a substantial impact on operational efficiency and safety. His dedication to improving service delivery through innovative solutions exemplifies the spirit of the Innovation of the Year award. Brian’s contributions have not only enhanced the functionality of existing systems but also set a benchmark for future innovations within the organisation.

Finance

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year – Joint Winners

Payroll Team

Working above capacity to sustain services while delivering key additional activities, including multiple retrospective pay awards, new pension regulations, increased pension applications, partial retirement provisions, system updates, and controls from the Reduced Working Week.

SSTS

Ensuring no impacts on SSTS service provision, including increased activity from Reduced Working Week updates, while integrating the new eRostering system to normal business. This includes supporting early adopters, initial rollout and support at the IRH site, piloting medics at QEUH ED, and supporting the HIS pilot of Safe Care for Adult Mental Health Inpatient areas.

Employee of the Year

Evelyn McIntyre

Evelyn has been extremely supportive to both the Management accounts team and the Sector management teams in a challenging year that has seen various changes in staffing as well pressures from gaps in sickness and vacancies.

Throughout the period of change Evelyn has maintained a professional approach and mentored junior staff members in their learning, advised management staff on a variety of issues, and maintained a high quality of service to key stakeholders. Evelyn continues help to shape the service of the management accounts function to meet the needs of the organisation.

Leader of the Year

Stuart McDade

Stuart has been pivotal in redesigning Ward Product Management (Stores) services at QEUH in 2023 onwards, focusing on ward layouts and stock cataloguing. Since April 2024, Stuart’s team completed stock reviews in 29 wards and improved the National Distribution Service (NDS) cage return process.

His leadership in training staff with new SOPs and training manuals has boosted team morale and performance. The Ward Product Management service at QEUH was recognised by the NSS Genesis team as one of the top 3 in Scotland.

Innovation of the Year

Joe Marr

Joe has shown exceptional dedication to his role at the Procurement Central Store (Dava St), particularly in 2024. He played a crucial role in the warehouse redesign, improving communication, simplifying processes, and enhancing governance by implementing signatures for goods over £1,000. 

Joe’s efforts in updating the logistics schedule for QEUH have significantly improved the efficiency of inbound and outbound goods movement, providing clear guidance on delivery expectations. This project has freed up time for the Transport Team, allowing for better contingency planning and service readiness. Additionally, Joe has developed Procurement System SOPs for staff and consistently engages with management and other services to seek improvement ideas.

Glasgow City HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Glasgow City HSCP Property Team

The Glasgow City HSCP Property Team has been recognised as Team of the Year for their outstanding delivery of the Parkhead Hub Project—the first project of its size and type within the HSCP. Despite competing demands, the team successfully engaged with Glasgow City Council, NHS Services, and key stakeholders to bring this vital facility to life.

Navigating challenges such as the NHS Assure process and a complex procurement landscape, they have worked tirelessly to ensure compliance and operational efficiency. Their dedication and teamwork have resulted in a transformational community space, including a library, café, and facilities for local groups, benefiting both HSCP services and the people of Glasgow.

Their commitment and resilience make them truly deserving of this award.

Employee of the Year

Liam Logue

Liam was nominated by his entire team for his consistent dedication and positive impact on his team. As a Social Care Worker for Housing First, Liam demonstrates a bright, supportive attitude, going above and beyond for both colleagues and service users.

Focussed on equality and high service standards, Liam has built trust with long-term homeless individuals, helping them navigate complex needs and engage with services. His personal kindness and proactive efforts, from sourcing clothing to providing gifts, make him an exceptional team member.

Liam’s commitment extends beyond his full-time role—he volunteers with a homelessness organisation, supporting the homeless and rough sleepers every Sunday. He actively encourages collaboration between the group and HSCP, bringing valuable insights to his work.

Leader of the Year

Pauline Ward

Pauline Ward has proven herself to be an exemplary leader within the Care Home Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Team, earning the Leader of the Year award for her exceptional leadership over just 18 months.

Pauline has redefined her team’s structure, raised care standards, and fostered a culture of collaboration. Her empathetic approach has maintained team morale during difficult times, demonstrating the true qualities of a leader who cares about the wellbeing of her colleagues.

Beyond immediate challenges, Pauline has cultivated a focus on continuous improvement, ensuring the team consistently exceeds care standards. Her leadership has had a lasting impact, improving communication, collaboration, and patient outcomes across the HSCP, solidifying the ANP Team’s reputation for excellence.

Innovation of the Year

The Thistle Project Team

The Thistle Project Team has been recognised with Innovation of the Year for its groundbreaking role delivering the UK’s first Safer Drug Consumption Facility. Led by Glasgow City HSCP, this project brought together a range of partners, including Glasgow City Council, City Building, NHSGGC, and several others, to create a service that addresses complex health and social challenges.

The Thistle is a unique service, the implementation of which required innovative solutions to many service requirements never previously encountered within UK health environments. Through extensive consultations with Lived Experience Reference Groups and the surrounding community, the team ensured the facility was tailored to meet the unique needs of users, with the potential to significantly reduce harm and influence future legislation.

Volunteer of the Year

Ross Parker and Paul Young

Paul and Ross have been recognised as Volunteer of the Year for their exceptional contributions at Gartnavel Royal Hospital.

Paul, a Garden Volunteer at the Growing Spaces, dedicates his time to maintaining the hospital gardens and supporting patients, staff, and visitors through gardening workshops and hands-on advice. His efforts help improve mental and physical wellbeing by creating a peaceful, nurturing space for all.

Ross, a Games Volunteer, provides a calming presence in the Hub Café, offering patients, staff, and visitors the opportunity to engage in games and meaningful conversations. His empathy and excellent listening skills contribute significantly to easing stress and anxiety.

Both volunteers have made invaluable contributions to the hospital environment, enriching the lives of those they support.

Human Resources & Organisational Development

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Moving & Handling Team

The Moving and Handling Team provides support in complex patient moving and handling situations, providing safe and effective solutions for both the patient and for staff looking after them. Due to the pandemic and the need for a mass recruitment campaign, a significant backlog of staff in the nurse bank required training in Moving and Handling. 

This training is needed to ensure compliance with national and local policy and is fundamental for safeguarding staff and patient safety.

Employee of the Year

Mark Allen, Senior HR Administrator, Staff Experience Team

Mark provides a fantastic administrative service to the Staff Governance Committee, Remuneration Committee and Workforce Equality Group. 

Mark frequently supports other key initiatives within Staff Experience or across the broader HR Team, such as the EDI learning event or support for the Public Enquiry. In 2024, with the Head of HR Corporate leaving, Mark had to step in to lead much of the work around Remuneration Committee.

Leader of the Year

Gillian Gall, Head of HR, West Dunbartonshire HSCP

Gillian epitomises the values of the HR profession, very knowledgeable and works hard to learn and retain information so that she can provide timely and accurate advice and guidance. She is quick to recognise and praise achievements and encourages others to succeed. Gillian’s approach is having a positive impact on the perception of HR within the HSCP, and her influence extends to both WDC and NHS staff.

Innovation of the Year

Medical Bank Payroll, Craig Rennie, Workforce Planning & Information Manager

The Medical Bank Payroll has been manually handled for years since the Bank was commenced.  This involved downloading all shifts from the Bank system and then typing them onto SSTS. This allowed payroll to pay the doctors.

Craig developed a solution that allows the process to be automated, reducing effort and increasing accuracy. 

It has also been shared across the wider team, allowing for resilience around individual availability. The process has reduced from 4 days effort to 0.5 days effort.

Volunteer of the Year

Emma Kelly, HR Assistant, HR Support and Advice Unit

Emma introduced a weekly closed case report which pulls together information from various sources and presents it in a very user-friendly way. This clearly shows, week by week, how many cases have been closed, in what areas and for what reasons. It also has an interactive element which brings the report to life. 

Emma also provides support to colleagues and develops database activity to support attendance management action planning.

Inverclyde HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Children’s Residential Services (The View, Crosshill & Kylemore Children’s Houses)

The Children’s Residential Services Team in Inverclyde exist across three local houses The View, Kylemore & Crosshill who work around the clock to provide a loving and caring home for young people up to the age of 21. The team work extremely hard to provide a safe and nurturing home for children who are unable to reside with their families and they embody the core values of being child-centered, trauma-responsive and provide love and nurture ensuring that every child in our homes receives the support they need to thrive.

Beyond their crucial role in residential care, the team extends their reach to offer invaluable outreach services to families across Inverclyde, providing crucial support during evenings and weekends.

Employee of the Year

Laura Kenicer (Advanced Pharmacist, Primary Care)

Laura is an Advanced pharmacist within Inverclyde HSCP, she leads on Chronic Pain with the HSCP pharmacy team as well as being the professional secretary for the Scottish Pain Pharmacy Network. She has supported our pharmacy staff to deliver tier 3 opiate medication reviews, including training our staff on the administration, prescribing and patient counselling for naloxone. Furthermore, she supports the pharmacists develop clinically with her practice educator role.

Laura is passionate about supporting patients with chronic pain and those with issues with alcohol and drug misuse. She leads by example and is an inspiration to other staff.

Her passion for supporting these patients’ groups, encourages our team to take on advancing skills to also benefit the population of Inverclyde.

Leader of the Year

Gayle McQueen (Wellbeing Coordinator, Inverclyde Homelessness Centre)

Gayle’s approach to recruitment ensured a team of dedicated individuals were introduced to the service to deliver support of varying intensities to meet the needs of each resident both in the Inverclyde Centre and in Temporary Furnished Flats in the community.

Gayle furnished a large communal lounge and a smaller lounge for outreach work, tirelessly engaged with third sector organisations and community assets to ensure residents received the care and attention of local dentists, opticians and student hairdressers who provided valuable services to make residents feel good about themselves.

She ensured they were trained in food hygiene to facilitate a brunch club  three times a week providing wholesome and nutritious food to people who were hungry, and mentored residents in cooking and basic hygiene skills.

Innovation of the Year

Laura Gordon (Health Visiting Team Lead)

Laura had the idea of an App where parents and carers could access all the information that Health Visitors provide. Parents and carers will be able to access information that is safe and approved from their own mobile device at any time of night and day.

Links provided signpost to recommended guidance and supports and offer insights into children’s health, wellbeing, and development as well as a wealth of other relevant information. It provides reassurance for families, reduces the use of paper leaflets and ensures parents are not sourcing out of date or inaccurate information. The App is available to download now and will be officially launched this year. It is called Happy Healthy Tots.

Volunteer of the Year

Arlene Bissett

In addition to working and supporting her two adult sons, Arlene is involved in a number of local Inverclyde disability groups.  Arlene’s close connections in the Inverclyde community makes her a source of information about voluntary organisations and things to do. 

This helps other staff in the CLDT find out about activities people who use our service can access.  Because her own sons are both active and contributing members of the community, she encourages others that people with neurological differences can be successful. She makes a difference to the young people who are members of the local Scouts, and to all the people who enjoy a meal from the Warm Kitchen.

Pharmacy Services

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

NHSGGC Primary Care Practice Educators

This programme, developed in 2023, was led by Tamara Cairney and delivered by dedicated Practice Educators across the HSCP teams. Throughout 2024, 53 pharmacists have been supported through the 12-week intensive period of supervision programme, beginning with a comprehensive Learning Needs Analysis.

This is aimed at developing pharmacists’ skills and confidence to manage increasingly complex patient care. This approach fosters the development of competence and autonomy, enhancing clinical decision-making capabilities. The program is designed to promote holistic professional growth by integrating reflective practice, patient feedback, and realistic clinical conversations. Pharmacists also have access to valuable well-being resources and are actively encouraged to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams, further enriching their learning experience.

Employee of the Year

Laura Kenicer Advanced Pharmacist (Primary Care)

Laura is an Advanced pharmacist who leads on Chronic Pain. She is a practice educator, supporting pharmacy staff to deliver tier 3 opiate medication reviews. This includes naloxone training on administration, prescribing and patient counselling.

She supports the HSCPs’ Alcohol and Drugs Partnership; chairs Inverclyde Drug Death Review Committee; co-chair of the Supporting Self-Management of Chronic Pain in Inverclyde Group; professional secretary for the Scottish Pain Pharmacy Network and is a member of the Inverclyde HSCP Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Recovery and Homelessness Services Clinical and Care Governance Group. Laura is passionate about supporting patients and leads by example to inspire other staff, supporting them both professionally and personally. She is an amazing advocate for patients within Inverclyde.  

Leader of the Year

Susan Kafka Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Maternity Gynaecology and neonates

Susan demonstrates all the skills required to be a fantastic leader and role model.

She successfully implemented a planned re-design of Neonatal Pharmacy Service structure creating a peripatetic team for NHS GGC. Her engaging, inclusive style of leadership supported staff to engage with change, resulting in a smooth transition to the new structure.

This new flexibility has improved resilience and paved the way for standardisation and improvement of practices, supporting improved continuity of care for babies and their families. Under Susan’s leadership the team: demonstrate cohesive team working across 3 sectors; have shown great resilience through challenging times; support each other personally and professionally; are practising at their highest level and are involved in delivering service improvement or research.

Innovation of the Year

Pharmacy Technician COPD Patient Group Sessions: Improving Care & Developing the Clinical Role

Laura had the idea of an App where parents and carers could access all the information that Health Visitors provide. Parents and carers will be able to access information that is safe and approved from their own mobile device at any time of night and day.

Links provided signpost to recommended guidance and supports and offer insights into children’s health, wellbeing, and development as well as a wealth of other relevant information. It provides reassurance for families, reduces the use of paper leaflets and ensures parents are not sourcing out of date or inaccurate information. The App is available to download now and will be officially launched this year. It is called Happy Healthy Tots.

Director of Pharmacy Award

Hayley Miller and Sam Hayes

These individuals came together to act when they identified an opportunity to target waste and support the sustainability agenda.

They sent out information to staff detailing that medicines contribute to 25% of the NHS’s carbon emissions and invited interested parties to join a group so that everyone could all play a part in reducing our service’s carbon footprint. They encouraged change – big or small.

The new group, QECO, worked with a range of partners e.g. facilities, to establish site wide participation in change. Some initial changes included; implementation of site wide card recycling; reduced plastic bag use and an IVOST project in ICU. Future work is planned to maximise on national campaigns such as World Recycling Day in March.

Public Health

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Public Health Protection Unit and Health Services Admin Team

The Health Protection and Health Services Admin support team is quiet, hardworking, modest, and kind, always doing their best to assist the Nursing and Consultant teams, even when overwhelmed. They are vital for supporting safe and knowledgeable practice, always smiling and maintaining a ‘can do’ attitude. An efficient support network is essential for clinical staff, especially during times of extra workload and pressure.

The PHPU Admin team is always present and their massive contribution is the backbone of the department, ensuring smooth functioning.

Employee of the Year

Louise Logue – Health Improvement Practitioner, Quit Your Way Smoking Cessation

Louise excels in providing smoking cessation support in NHSGGC’s Quit Your Way Community Service. She assists clients in West Dunbartonshire with intensive, person-centred support via phone and face-to-face clinics. Louise is dedicated, ensuring everyone receives 100% effort, and has built strong partnerships in the area.

Her exceptional support has garnered numerous positive patient stories on Care Opinion, praising her friendliness, knowledge, and dedication. Louise is also a supportive colleague, contributing to team improvements and assisting other Quit Your Way teams, such as the Pregnancy Service, during capacity challenges. Her commitment ensures the best service for all clients.

Leader of the Year

Susan Brodie-Adamson – Health Improvement Senior, Quit Your Way Smoking Cessation

Susan, the Team Lead for the Acute Quit Your Way Hospital Stop Smoking Service, is highly respected for her approachable, determined, and resilient nature. She is trusted to make the right decisions and is also known for her humorous and mischievous side, making her an ideal leader.

Susan encourages team members to shine, focusing on their strengths and helping improve weaknesses. She is empathetic, always ready to listen to work or personal issues, and quick to praise when deserved. Susan ensures no one struggles alone, always going the extra mile to support her team.

Innovation of the Year

Frontline Equalities Assessment Tool – Equalities and Human Rights Team

Over the past year, the Equality and Human Rights team implemented the Frontline Equality Assessment (FEA) tool across 40 wards and services. The Frontline Equalities Assessment tool assesses the integration of inequalities-sensitive practices, covering all protected characteristics. It evaluates patient data, communication support, and knowledge of related issues, policies, and discharge planning.

The tool includes a BME Pathway and an Autism Sensitised Pathway for further exploration. The tool helps staff reduce healthcare inequalities and identifies unmet needs, benefiting patients by removing access barriers. It ensures NHS GGC complies with Equality Legislation and the Public Sector Equality Duty, and informs the next Equality Scheme.

Volunteer of the Year

Brian Laidlaw – Support and Information Service (SIS)

Brian has demonstrated consistently his passion, commitment, and dedication to NHSGGC Hospital Support & Information Services (SIS) over the past 12 years. Recruited in April 2012, Brian has been a steadfast supporter of SIS frontline patient services, contributing weekly. His friendly, empathetic, and compassionate approach helps create a safe space for patients, carers, and families.

Brian balances the demands of healthcare volunteering with being a full-time carer for his wife. He is an integral part of the team, providing invaluable support to SIS workers and ensuring comprehensive care for patients and carers. NHSGGC SIS is proud to have him on their team.

Regional Services

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Elder Ward Nursing Team, Rowanbank Clinic

The Elder Ward nursing team at Rowanbank Clinic were praised for the care shown to patients as they were awarded Team of the Year. 

Colleagues who nominated the team highlighted their compassion and told how they were “consistently amazed at the strength and resilience shown” including the innovative and individualised ways they engage with patients.  

Employee of the Year

Lorna Welsh, Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist, Haematology, QEUH

Employee of the Year Regional Services – Alyson McArdle on behalf of Lorna Welsh

Lorna Welsh, an Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist working in Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, was named Employee of the Year.  She acts as a first point of contact for patients who’ve had bone marrow transplants and was praised for continually going “above and beyond” for those she cares for as well as her colleagues.

The service includes patients from across 12 Scottish health board areas, ranging in age and needs. Lorna’s expertise is often called upon from national and international organisations, including European Bone Marrow Transplant and the Anthony Nolan charity.

Leader of the Year

Lynsey Watt, Senior Charge Nurse, Ward B1, Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre

The Leader of the Year prize went to Lynsey Watt, Senior Charge Nurse in the Beatson’s B1 ward for Gynaecology and skin cancer patients.

She was described as having a “positive, can-do attitude”, with colleagues saying Lynsey’s dedication to person-centred care is significant and spans everyone she interacts with including patients, families and colleagues.

Lynsey was also praised for ensuring pop star Marti Pellow visited the ward to meet one of her patients, who couldn’t get out of bed, when he was at the Beatson recently to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms.

Innovation of the Year

Magic Leap

This year’s Innovation prize went to staff at the Institute for Neurological Sciences who have been using a pioneering mixed reality (MR) system that allows them to “see inside” a patient’s body during surgery. 

The MR goggles and system, known as the Magic Leap, are used by Consultant Neurosurgeon and Complex Spine Surgeon Mohamed Abdelsadg and colleagues to make surgeries less invasive and more accurate, minimising damage to other tissue. 

The team were said to have “demonstrated remarkable dedication to advancing patient care by embracing cutting-edge technologies” that help to enhance precision. 

Renfrewshire HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

Weavers Linn Team

Weavers Linn, a core part of our Learning Disabilities Service, is a dynamic and progressive service, known for their collaborative spirit and commitment to exceptional service user care. They proactively partner with other organisations to enhance support and ensure consistent, safe care and support. Their innovative approaches to service user progression are balanced by a professional yet fun atmosphere, creating a positive and supportive environment for both staff and service users.

Employee of the Year

Linda Murdoch – Public Affairs Manager

Linda is very motivated and hard working with an excellent customer focused attitude.  She strives to ensure every complainant feels heard. Not only does Linda take time to talk to people and explain their options, but she listens and is able to genuinely help and offer good advice and comfort.

Leader of the Year

Ann Marie Cumming – Senior Business Support Assistant

Ann Marie has proven herself to be an outstanding leader, providing both guidance and unwavering support to her admin team and the wider district nursing team. Her leadership style is characterized by empathy, dedication, and an innate ability to inspire those around her. Ann Marie’s approach to leadership focuses on the wellbeing of her team, ensuring they feel valued, supported, and empowered in their roles.

Innovation of the Year

Well in Renfrewshire (WiRe) Map – Allan Mair and Carolyn Russell

The Well in Renfrewshire, or Wire, map displays information about the huge range of community groups and activities available across Renfrewshire in a visual and easy to use way. Our front-line workers as well as partner organisations and local people have been using it over the last few months to find out what’s available to them in their local area.

This is something that we have long been told is required. The map is evolving continually and Allan and Carolyn have been instrumental in liaising with partners in both the development of the technical side and in the gathering of the information.

Community Involvement Award

Thrive Under 5 Project

This programme takes a whole system, community food nurturing approach with the families of pre-school children, combining action on food and financial insecurity, healthy eating and physical activity. In the initial stages, the Health Improvement team led on the collection of data and information from partners around child health, poverty and food insecurity to allow comprehensive data analysis before constructing a community asset map model of two localities in Paisley Northwest & Johnstone.

Best Supporting Role

Change & Improvement Team

The Change and Improvement team is an invaluable part of the HSCP’s support services, working across operational services to make a significant and tangible difference to the quality of services the HSCP provides.  The team plays a fundamental role in our successful delivery of policy, strategy, and our savings programme. Over the last year, the team has provided ongoing leadership and input to the Sustainable Futures programme, service improvement work and board wide activity. 

As such the team’s contribution to progressing the strategic direction of the IJB and HSCP and supporting financial sustainability has been immeasurable and feedback has continuously noted the exceptional impact the team has had.

Chief Officer Award

CIRCLE Recovery Hub

Challenging times with restructures and reduced finances in Renfrewshire have seen a reduction in Support staff at CIRCLE Recovery Hub with the referral rates continuing to be high.

Our support staff have continued to give everything they have to support individuals in Renfrewshire that have mental health and / or addiction related issues, by continuing to develop the service provision, not only within one building but a Recovery Community in Renfrewshire as a whole.  The integrity of partnership working and seeing their provision as a piece of a large support network has supported these challenging times and also built strong connections with partner agencies, which aligns to future goals of the RHSCP.

West Dunbartonshire HSCP

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

West Dunbartonshire HSCP Mental Health Officers

West Dunbartonshire HSCP Mental Health Officers collaborate with Medical and Legal professionals to fulfil the Statutory Duty to protect and support people experiencing mental health issues.

Every day, they go “above and beyond”, seeking to provide a person-centred, caring aspect to their work with those in the community who have reached a crisis point in their lives.

Forging strong relationships with their multi-disciplinary colleagues, they work closely together, offering peer mentoring and support which has significant benefits in terms of consistent and effective practice. 

But their main focus is the people themselves – making sure they are fully included and engaged in their care as an equal partner whose voice is heard and then evidenced within their assessments.

Employee of the Year

Gioia Sichi-Smith, HCV Specialist Nurse, Senior BBV/Harm Reduction Nurse, Addiction Services

As a key member of the West Dunbartonshire Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, Gioia provides care, treatment and support to the most vulnerable people in the Community, making a difference every day.

Increasingly concerned at their lack of engagement with sexual health services, she completed additional training in this area of specialty, over and above her normal duties.  Her qualifications have allowed her to commence a weekly Clinic which incorporates sexual health screening as well as other Harm Reduction interventions.

Collaborating with colleagues and services across West Dunbartonshire, Gioia is expanding this work further, promoting the benefits of regular healthcare, and delivering awareness training for service users to help them on their personal recovery journey.

A true inspiration to others!

Leader of the Year

Joyce Habo, Business Support Supervisor & PA to Chief Officer

Joyce provides valued support and guidance across West Dunbartonshire Health & Social Care Partnership.

Responding to current challenges, her leadership style has encouraged adaptability and resourcefulness to support the vision and direction of business priorities.

Mindful of the impact of change on her Team, she sought to create an environment fostering collaborative working and ongoing development, where colleagues still feel “cared for” themselves.

As a result, she has built credibility and earned the respect of her peers, the Senior Management Team and the wider organisation.

She fulfils an unconditional business support role with an attentive and efficient attitude towards everyone – showing empathy and a willingness to help, whilst being vigilant to the impact of an ever-evolving business landscape.

Innovation of the Year

MSK Project Team (Streamlined Vetting Process)

Reviewing and rebuilding the referral vetting process was a priority project for the MSK Physiotherapy service, ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time with the right clinician.

The MSK Project Team comprises a range of dedicated staff – from Health Care Support Workers to Advanced Practice Physiotherapy staff from MSK and Orthopaedics.  Together, they met each challenge, completing project milestones within timescale.

As well as significantly improving patient experience, the new process makes more effective use of capacity for new appointments, maximising clinical skills and expertise at all levels.

Patient and Staff feedback has contributed to further improvements and the impact of the new process will continue to be evaluated as the project evolves.

Volunteer of the Year

Allison Graham, Low Back Pain Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner

Allison has been described as “an exceptional Physiotherapist who is attuned to the diverse needs of the multi-cultural and socio-economic challenges of the patient population she serves.”

Her professional dedication is mirrored by her personal involvement in numerous initiatives aimed at fostering inclusivity and supporting under-represented groups. 

One of these is the “Milk Enterprise Project” in Govanhill where Allison shows her commitment to empowering women from asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds.

She volunteers her time to help them practice English and discuss health-related issues, providing vital support that extends beyond her day job, for example, establishing a weekly exercise class tailored to their needs, or organising a Quiz to help those preparing for the UK Residency test.

A very worthy winner!

Women & Children’s Services

Overall Winner Nominees

Team of the Year

RHC NICU

The Neonatal team at RHC has been outstanding during a particularly challenging time of displacement from the Neonatal unit. Despite having their intensive care unit flooded, necessitating a move to another area of the hospital, the team continued to

provide high-quality care to extremely sick and preterm babies. Their dedication and compassion have been remarkable, making them truly deserving of recognition for their incredible efforts and resilience. The team has pushed above and beyond all reserves to deliver high standards of care.

Patients in the neonatal unit can be very unwell, and a few of them will not make the journey to go home. The team is helping families to create lasting memories, treating everyone with dignity and respecting their individual needs and backgrounds.

Employee of the Year

Eleanor Quirke

Eleanor has been an exceptional employee and leader throughout her time in HPN, always demonstrating clear expectations delivered with care, kindness, and compassion. She listens actively and guides her colleagues through significant changes in maternity and neonatal services with unwavering optimism and hope. Eleanor’s trustworthiness, decisiveness, and willingness to take responsibility for her decisions have been invaluable.

She empowers her team, listens to differing views, and makes thoughtful decisions promptly. Her leadership has been integral to our success in neonatal service development, embodying the GGC values of respect and professionalism. Eleanor is a pillar of support and inspiration, making her truly deserving of this honour.

Leader of the Year

Mary Ross Davie

Mary has been awarded for her exceptional contributions as Director of Midwifery, driven by her compassionate and caring nature. Mary has transformed many aspects within the service. Her inspirational ways of working and unwavering commitment to high-quality service for all women and their families have been truly remarkable.

Mary unites the team with her positive vision, enthusiasm, and drive. Her care and compassion are evident in her work ethic and the care she demonstrates to both staff and women. Through her transformational work, she has fostered a positive culture within maternity services, emphasising dignity and respect. Mary’s approachable and empathetic nature allows her to bring staff along on her vision for change, creating a great team dynamic that ensures progress and continuous improvement of maternity services.

Innovation of the Year

Chris Hardwick

The same-day gynaecology operating initiative at New Victoria Hospital, led by Chris Hardwick with invaluable input from Claire Stewart and Vanessa Mackay, has revolutionized surgical opportunities for women on lengthy gynaecology waiting lists. By adapting existing pathways and guidelines and educating staff, they have significantly improved training opportunities for gynaecology trainees and nursing staff.

The day surgery team at New Victoria has harnessed their skills and knowledge to deliver highly productive theatre lists, resulting in shorter waiting times and positive postoperative experiences for patients. This innovative use of resources has not only enhanced staff morale and skill sets but also positively impacted other aspects of care and staff retention

Volunteer of the Year

John Lennox

John has been an invaluable volunteer at our respiratory clinic for many years, earning the respect and admiration of everyone in OPD RHC. He recognizes regular patients, ensures they check in correctly, and escorts them to other departments to keep things running smoothly. John’s contributions extend to the children’s charity, where he dons various outfits to make a better journey for our the patients. His respect, care, compassion, and empathy towards patients and families are evident in every interaction.

John is seen as an integral part of our team, keeping families, patients, and staff updated about clinic-related issues. His familiarity with the respiratory clinic’s operations and procedures used by doctors and multidisciplinary teams makes him truly deserving of the Volunteer of the Year award.

Rights of the Child Award

OPAT Team

The Paediatric Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) service at RHC, established in December 2023, has been a beacon of excellence in providing safe and efficient care. This service allows children to receive intravenous antibiotics through daily hospital visits, rather than staying in the hospital, supporting their right to heal in the comfort of their home with family.

The OPAT service has significantly improved healthcare standards by developing new pathways, enhancing communication, and providing continuity of care. Between December 2023 and December 2024, 53 patients were managed by the OPAT service, saving 589 hospital days. The team’s dedication to quality, safety, and compassion has made a profound impact on patients and their families, making them truly deserving of this award.

Further information on the main award categories

Team of the Year

The team, department, service or function that has been judged to have worked together as a team and made the most significant contribution to quality of care, population health and care, service delivery or staff wellbeing likely under significant pressure or difficult circumstances.

Employee of the Year

Any member of staff who has stood out as an exemplar of care giving, service delivery or who has made a major difference for colleagues around them or the delivery of a key objective for their department or wider NHSGGC/HSCP.

Leader of the Year

Any member of staff who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, positive values and behaviours and/or inspired others in a particularly challenging situation, or for the respect they get from others through the day to day difference they make for those around them as a leader.

Any member of staff can demonstrate leadership, not just those who formally manage people.

Innovation of the Year

To recognise any individual, team or department responsible for developing and implementing an innovative service, method, technology or process that has made a significant difference to quality of care, wider population health or care, service delivery or to the wellbeing of our own staff or to the efficient use our resources.

Volunteer of the Year

To recognise an individual or team of individuals who have volunteered significant time and effort to the benefit of our patients, service users or staff and made selfless contribution perhaps under difficult personal circumstances.

Our dedicated teams and individuals were nominated for the prestigious NHSGGC Excellence Awards by patients, visitors and staff. All of our staff have gone above and beyond in the past year and we asked to hear about your experience of outstanding care and for your nominations.

There are 7 categories in our Excellence Awards and the winners will be announced at the Celebrating Success Event on 28th May 2025.

The winners will be announced live on the night on our social media channels (follow the #ggcawards tag).

Congratulations and good luck to all our nominees!

Better Care

This award recognises staff who provide and contribute towards incredible patient care improving everyday practices across NHSGGC.

Nominees

Cancer Older People’s service  

The Cancer Older Peoples Service at the Beatson has successfully established and implemented a comprehensive Occupational Therapy service which is specifically designed to support older cancer patients. It is the only service of its kind in Scotland and uses targeted interventions to significantly improve functional outcomes for patients, as well as supporting their health and wellbeing. The team also concentrates on ensuring safe discharge for patients from hospital, and the best ways to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. They will undertake a thorough assessment of a patient’s physical, psychological, and social needs, while also incorporating age-specific screenings and interventions into routine cancer care. 

Evaluation has shown positive improvements in clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and overall cost-effectiveness, with clear areas identified for further growth. The team is currently in discussion with other cancer centres across the country to share its framework, which has proven to be a highly transferable model. 

Charley Mcdowall – Transition clinic within Inverclyde CAMHS

Charley is a specialist mental health nurse working in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in Inverclyde. She spearheaded the development of a dedicated ‘transition’ clinic for older adolescents after identifying a gap in care for this group. Previously, those aged 17 or over who were waiting for assessment and/or treatment were frequently transition to adult services when they turned 18. The new clinic provides immediate access, assessment and treatment for young people aged 17 years and 6 months and older. 

This initiative has provided timely access to care and treatment for mental health concerns, and has facilitated further assessments and exploration of diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, as well as cognitive difficulties. The results have been overwhelmingly positive, including improved mental health outcomes for young people, prevention of deterioration, timely neurodevelopmental diagnoses and treatment, and a reduction in referrals to adult mental health services.  

Hannah Grant, Advanced Practice Dietetic Led Coeliac Service NHSGGC 

Hannah has successfully transitioned the Coeliac Disease service from a consultant-led to a Dietetic Led Coeliac Service, marking a significant advancement in patient care. This initiative addresses the lifelong management of Coeliac Disease, which requires the strict elimination of gluten from the diet. Over the past two years, Hannah has implemented a streamlined process ensuring timely access to diagnosis and dietary interventions for all patients, significantly reducing over 300 unnecessary biopsies.  

The service prioritises patient-centred care by allowing dietitians to manage all referrals from primary and secondary care, ensuring that medical colleagues can focus on the most critical cases. This innovative model not only enhances patient care but also optimises resource utilisation within the healthcare system.  

What makes this service truly special is its status as the first dietitian-led clinical pathway in adult gastroenterology at scale. Hannah’s evidence-based approach has revolutionised the treatment of Coeliac Disease, demonstrating the essential role of dietitians in gastrointestinal management and improving patient outcomes through dietary changes. 

QEUH Fetal-Genetics Group  

The aim of the Fetal-Genetics Group team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital was to change the clinical experience for patients and families planning or undergoing a pregnancy where there is a known family history of a genetic condition and/or pregnancy loss. When a routine ultrasound scan shows some fetal anomalies that may be due to a genetic cause, this can result in a period of worry and distress for the patient/couple until more information is available, so time is of the essence to either reassure the patient/couple or equip them with the appropriate information to help them make informed choices about their pregnancy and/or postnatal care. 

The Fetal-Genetics Group combines the skills of Consultant Obstetricians, Specialist Midwives, Consultant Geneticists, Genetic Counsellors and Clinical Scientists to provide a truly multi-disciplinary approach that allows the most appropriate support and information and any genetic testing to be made available to this group of patients at the earliest opportunity and throughout their pregnancy and beyond. 

Scottish Epilepsy Register 

The Scottish Epilepsy Register has been developed under the leadership of NHSGGC Consultant Neurologist Dr Craig Heath and Johnathan Todd, Head of Information Management. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, with an estimated 55,000 people living with it in Scotland. The Scottish Epilepsy Register uses routine health data, collected via a clinical dashboard, to provide an alert to healthcare professionals following a key adverse event. Its main aim is to reduce excessive mortality and morbidity in epilepsy and to improve access to care and outcomes in people living with the condition.  

As part of the project, key pieces of clinical information are collected from other health boards which will be used to create a Scottish National Audit Programme for Epilepsy, allowing trends and outcomes to be tracked and monitored. Once fully established, the methodology could be applied to other chronic neurological diseases to improve disease recognition and management. 

Better Health

This award commends staff who have implemented an initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, the public and/or staff.

Nominees

Pain management service 

The Pain Management Service has recognised for a long time, significant health inequalities and barriers to access for patients with communication support needs. For non-English-speaking patients, language barriers often create significant challenges when navigating the healthcare system. This is particularly true in specialised services like pain management, where understanding treatment options and communication with healthcare providers is critical for successful outcomes.  

The service made it their priority to break down these barriers and improve accessibility, ensuring that every patient has the support they need, in the language they understand. To help achieve this and informed by patient and staff feedback, the team launched a number of initiatives from revision of patient materials to incorporating pain management into interpreter training. 

The result has been a whole system approach bringing better accessibility for patients for whom English is not their first language and greater engagement with healthcare services, and as well as enhancing the patient experience the initiative has also strengthened the clinical team. 

Gillian Harvey, Health Improvement Lead (Acute)  

Gillian has been instrumental in addressing health inequalities through her leadership of the Support and Information Services (SIS) team at NHSGGC hospitals. She spearheaded crucial initiatives like the Emergency Food on Discharge program, ensuring that no patient leaves the hospital without food. These programs are now core services, sustained despite budget constraints. 

Gillian also developed the Home Energy Crisis Response Service, which helps patients safely return to warm homes—a vital component in preventing delayed discharges. Her team actively engages with vulnerable populations, offering financial advice and support to those facing poverty. In 2023-24, SIS facilitated 3,762 referrals to financial inclusion services, resulting in over £4.5 million in financial gains for patients.  

Gillian’s exceptional leadership has fostered a motivated SIS team that provides holistic support, ensuring that patients receive the assistance they need while navigating the challenges of the cost of living. Her commitment to tackling health inequalities is both impactful and inspiring, making her a deserving nominee for this award. 

The Apple Clinic: prehab into rehab – Clyde 

The Apple Clinic is a multidisciplinary team covering the Clyde sector, with the shared aim of getting patients in the best physical and mental health before, during and after their surgery. The team provides prehabilitation-into-rehabilitation and have been running the clinic for nearly 10 years and have seen between 500-600 patients. They assess each surgical patient and refer them for exercise and physical activity at either their own exercise classes, or to community partners, local charities or private services.  

Physiotherapists Mhairi and Louise Crookston run the Inverclyde Royal Hospital Apple Clinic. They run weekly group circuit classes for patients awaiting surgery, which family members can join to provide support. The clinic has been transforming the surgical department by engaging nurses and Allied Health Professionals trained in exercise, health advice and cognitive behavioural therapy, all of which has reduced complications, shortened hospital stays and improved post-surgical recovery for patients.  

Better Value

This award is for staff who have increased efficiencies taking a new approach to work making better use of resources.

Nominees

North West Primary Care – Zendesk  

Zendesk aimed to streamline community pharmacy queries to enhance patient care in the North West of Glasgow City. Utilising the platform, community pharmacies submitted queries online rather than by phone, allowing for quicker and more efficient handling. Key objectives included routing queries to appropriate pharmacy team members, reducing administrative workload in GP practices, and improving turnaround time for medication-related issues.  

Launched in November 2024, the system handled 435 queries in two months, with 81% resolved by Pharmacy Support Workers, thereby freeing up over 60 hours of pharmacist capacity for face-to-face patient care. The initiative not only saved staffing costs—almost £850 in eight weeks—but also provided self-help resources for community pharmacies.  

With expectations to handle over 15,000 queries annually, the project is set to release nearly 2,100 hours of pharmacist time and achieve annual savings of approximately £31,000. This innovative use of IT to direct workload enhances service efficiency and patient safety. 

NHSGGC Biorepository

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Biorepository is the first in the UK to achieve accreditation to ISO20387:2018, the new biobanking standard. It was awarded this by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), the UK’s national accreditation body, becoming only the eight biobank in the world to achieve this. There have been many improvements to the Biorepository’s quality processes and this has improved the service it provides to academic and commercial researchers, supporting their world leading medical research with access to surplus diagnosis tissue and blood.   

Accreditation against an ISO standard is a key indicator of high-quality processes and technical competence in the handling and storage of tissues used for research activities. 

The Biorepository, based on the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital campus, stores and provides access to a wide range of human tissue for use in valuable medical research into a range of diseases.   

Dry Mouth/Sjogrens Multi-disciplinary clinic at Glasgow Dental Hospital 

The clinic was set up in 2024 to provide a one-stop service for patients with symptoms of Sjogrens disease. Sjogrens is an autoimmune disorder with an increased lifetime risk of lymphoma development, and its diagnosis involves a range of investigations previously undertaken over three appointments. 

By establishing the clinic – the first of its kind in Scotland – Consultants in Oral Medicine and Dental Radiology have enabled all the necessary investigations to be undertaken in a single appointment, allowing patients with negative results to be discharged to their general dental practitioner after one visit and patients with confirmed Sjogrens to have their cases managed more efficiently. 

In the first six months of operation, this new approach saw 30% of patients seen by the clinic discharged after their initial visit, saving around 60 future appointments with Dental Radiology and Oral Medicine. The effect of patient experience has been positive too, and in local questionnaires, every patient has appreciated this more streamlined approach. 

Better Workplace

This award recognises the often unseen work of our staff who help make NHSGGC a better workplace, improving the culture and supporting colleagues.

Nominees

GGC Allied Health Professions Practice Education Team  

The GGC Allied Health Professions (AHP) Practice Education Team aimed to enhance the educational experience for students and AHP staff within NHSGGC by implementing a multi-dimensional education programme. The AHP Director prioritises an inclusive education strategic framework for 12 healthcare professions, including AHP Health Care Support Workers (HCSW), ensuring access to innovative learning opportunities for the current and future workforce.  

The Practice Education Team has played a pivotal role over the past two years by collaborating with key partners, improving communication, and designing new AHP educational opportunities. Their efforts have raised the profile of AHPs, transformed NHSGGC’s educational offerings, and supported career development for staff and students. 

Key deliverables include enhancing practice-based learning placements, developing a funded modular programme in collaboration with Glasgow Caledonian University, and supporting HCSW workforce development through flexible programmes. The team also plays a vital role in staff support during the recovery renewal period, leading initiatives like the Return to Practice programme and promoting clinical skills through simulation.  

Their commitment to education governance and service improvement significantly contributes to the overall wellbeing and professional growth within NHSGGC. 

Internationally Educated Nurses Oversight Group  

The Internationally Educated Nurses Oversight Group aimed to enhance recruitment, professional governance, and pastoral care for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) joining NHSGGC. By facilitating discussions among multi-disciplinary professionals, the group streamlined support for IENs addressing key concerns like visa processes, accommodation, and education. Members included Human Resources, Senior Nursing Managers, and Practice Education, ensuring collaborative efforts to foster a positive working environment and address IENs’ needs.  

The group’s success is reflected in several impactful initiatives: the creation of a welcoming NHSGGC handbook, improved collaboration with Higher Education Institutions for upskilling, regular staff presentations to address IEN challenges, and the introduction of a ‘My Nurses Life’ workbook. Additionally, a dedicated website for IENs was launched, alongside the first-ever ‘Welcome to the UK Workforce’ workshops held in Scotland.  

In 2023-24, NHSGGC became the leading board in Scotland for employing IENs, successfully adapting strategies based on feedback from the previous cohort. This comprehensive approach not only enhanced integration but also cultivated a culturally aware and psychologically safe environment for IENs. 

Stacey Kavanagh – Nurse Team Lead, South alcohol and drug delivery service in Pollok  

Stacey is a manager who has created a workplace that is not only comfortable but also supportive and inclusive for everyone. She consistently looks out for her colleagues, offering guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear, and has created a team where everyone feels valued.  

She ensures that all work progresses smoothly, addressing challenges proactively and stepping in to help when difficulties arise, while she actively encourages and supports team members in their professional growth, providing mentorship and opportunities to learn and advance. 

This approach has fostered a positive, inclusive and efficient work environment and ensures her team feels supported, motivated, and well-equipped to handle both day-to-day tasks and challenging situations. 

As a result, the team has seen improved efficiency and productivity, while there has been a noticeable improvement in staff retention. Numerous team members have expressed their appreciation for Stacey’s leadership, approachability, support and commitment to fairness, and have noted an increase in job satisfaction as a result. 

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Referrals Database (Rob) 

The aim of the project was to redesign the NHSGGC database and governance process for NMC referrals, enhancing data protection and confidentiality while improving communication channels. Identifying risks in the previous system, Michelle Murray-Moore undertook training to explore innovative IT solutions that would streamline information sharing within the NMC referral process. Collaborating with Tracy Donaldson, they developed a user-friendly database with effective reporting functionalities and key document templates.  

The success of the new system has been recognised by senior nursing and midwifery managers and the NMC Regulatory Adviser, highlighting several benefits: a robust governance process, a clear single point of contact, user-friendliness, and flexibility for future adaptations.  

This initiative has remarkably improved NMC referral management, fostering transparency and maintaining confidentiality for staff under investigation. It has significantly enhanced efficiency, enabling the NHSGGC team to respond promptly to NMC and service colleague requests and freeing up resources for other important workstreams within the Directorate. This impactful achievement exemplifies innovation and dedication to excellence in healthcare governance. 

Global Citizenship

This award recognises staff who have travelled overseas to provide healthcare and/or education in developing countries or countries in crisis.

Nominees

Breast cancer care in Gaza 

Breast Cancer Advanced Nurse Practitioner Gerry O’Hare and Dr Abdulla Alhasso, a Consultant Clinical Oncologist, bring a combined 20 years of experience in supporting cancer care in Palestine, with a particular focus on breast cancer in Gaza. Breast cancer outcomes for women in Gaza are significantly worse when compared to neighbouring countries and international benchmarks. Gerry and Abdulla have undertaken regular visits to Gaza over the past five years, which has been done in their own time and with the support of the Medical Aid for Palestinian organisation.  

They collaborate with healthcare professionals in Gaza to enhance the clinical outcomes for women diagnosed with breast cancer by improving both their diagnosis and treatments. The pair also participate in weekly online multidisciplinary meetings with Palestinian colleagues to discuss optimal care for women presenting with early and advanced breast cancer, while also navigating the extremely challenging local circumstances.   

Professor Sameer Zuberi – Paediatric Neurosciences Unit, Royal Hospital for Children  

Professor Zuberi is a committed advocate for epilepsy care in children across at a national, European and global level. He is an active participant in international research, and his work has helped in improving the diagnosis, treatment and care of children with epilepsy, improving their quality of life and allowing them to achieve their potential in life, education and future career.  

He makes regular use of vCreate, a technology by which parents send video clips to clinicians who can advise, in real time, on the significance of an event that worries parents and also helping make a diagnosis in difficult cases of epilepsy 

He has chaired the European Paediatric Neurology Association and played an important role in the twinning of the Royal Hospital for Children with the Children’s Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. He had helped to foster links with and training and support for neurologists in Ukraine as well as supporting efforts to train and educate colleagues working in Palestine and Gaza. 

Dr Mark McAuley GP Partner Regent Gardens Medical Practice Kirkintilloch, Assistant Director of General Practice for West of Scotland (NHS Education Scotland)  

Dr McAuley, a partner at Regent Gardens Medical Practice for over 25 years, and Assistant Director of General Practice for West of Scotland (NHS Education Scotland), has demonstrated exceptional commitment to both his local community and global health initiatives.  

He has volunteered with Freedom from Torture for over 11 years, where he provides medicolegal assessments for survivors of torture, ensuring their human rights are upheld through rehabilitation support. His extensive training allows him to document the physical and psychological effects of torture, aiding asylum seekers and refugees in rebuilding their lives.  

In addition, he has contributed to the development of primary care in India through his ongoing partnership with CMC Vellore. He conducted a successful training workshop in October 2022, which spurred further engagement and recognition at international conferences. As a PRIME tutor, he has also visited Albania multiple times to enhance family medicine training.  

His selfless dedication to these global initiatives while providing exemplary care to his local patients makes him a deserving nominee.  

Nursing and Midwifery

This award recognises nurse(s) who demonstrate the best qualities of patient care and the ethos of nursing.

Nominees

Brachytherapy Nursing Team  

Nurses on the Beatson’s B3 ward are a highly specialised team helping to care for women with gynaecological cancers. They deliver brachytherapy, a type of radiotherapy that gives radiation inside the body and run the only nurse-led service in Scotland for women who require this treatment. The nurses pre-assess and examine patients and insert the necessary cylinders to allow patients to receive high dose radiation within a specialised unit.  

This is a regional service for patients attending for sealed and unsealed sources of treatment. Melanie Whyte, Senior Charge Nurse, has been instrumental in helping to develop and implement the necessary protocols, safety advice and training for nurses in the unit. Patient feedback has confirmed patients attending the unit are happy with the service, and turnaround time has improved service delivery while also taking a huge time commitment away from Senior Consultants who previously carried out these treatments. 

Susan Hunt, Professional Nurse Lead GPN/ANP  

Susan was closely involved in efforts to enhance excellence in care within NHSGGC by supporting trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) in developing the knowledge, skills and competencies required for advanced practice. In collaboration with NHSGGC Advanced Practice corporate team and Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), she developed and delivered a hugely successful work-based Masters-level learning module to support trainee ANPs to reach the level of extended practice expected of them.  

The module is facilitated by Susan and trainees are given a safe space to discuss individual clinical cases which allows for open discussion and joint learning, as well as facilitating peer support and engagement. Her ability to engage trainees on a personal level helped the trainees navigate the complexities of their new roles, providing reassurance and guidance, and ensuring they felt valued and supported.  

Around 120 staff have competed this module and have gone onto work as ANPs. The result is a stronger, more skilled ANP workforce, improving patient care and making a lasting difference in primary and community healthcare services. 

Tissue Viability Team (Dykebar)  

The Tissue Viability Nursing Team at NHSGGC, a cohesive group of 10 nurses, is dedicated to supporting patients with complex wounds, receiving up to 850 referrals monthly. Renowned for their expertise, this team implements innovative, person-centred initiatives that enhance care while effectively using resources.  

One key initiative focused on reducing unnecessary documentation, which previously consumed up to three hours per shift. They developed an ABCD system that emphaises meaningful record-keeping and effective communication. Additionally, they transformed patient repositioning practices by moving away from ritualistic two-hour checks, allowing for more personalised care that improves patient comfort and nursing efficiency. This approach, supported by evidence from case reviews and focus groups, has led to significant time savings and better patient outcomes.  

The team enhances education through engaging workshops, utilising games such as wound care bingo and interactive quizzes to facilitate learning. Their efforts have gained international recognition, influencing wound care practices across the UK and beyond, and have been published in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing their commitment to advancing wound care.  

Volunteer

Recognising people who go the extra mile contributing tirelessly and providing outstanding help and support for the benefit of others.

Nominees

Morag Brierton, RAH volunteer 

Morag is NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s longest serving volunteer in acute services, having volunteered with the organisation for over 15 years. She is a Volunteer Driver for the Royal Alexandra Hospital Health at Heart team and transports patients to and from the hospital for cardiac rehab exercise classes in the Health at Heart gym. Within the service, patients also receive physiotherapy, education sessions, practical advice and emotional support, helping to rebuild their confidence and come to terms with a range of different heart conditions. 

Transport within and around Renfrewshire to the hospital can be challenging, particularly for patients living in semi-rural areas. But Morag’s vital support helps break down barriers for patients – many of whom are older and at risk of isolation – in accessing the rehab programme. They enjoy spending time with Morag in the car having a chat, and she builds strong relationships with them over the weeks she is picking them up and taking them home.  

The Growing Spaces Garden Volunteers – Gartnavel  

The value of greenspace to our health and wellbeing is well documented, and the Garden Volunteer team are central to NHSGGC’s efforts to offer multi-purpose spaces in nature, where patients, staff and the general public can find a place to relax, meet friends or simply have a moment of peace.  

The volunteers work throughout the year to maintain the garden spaces at Gartnavel, and thanks to their skills and foresight, they have developed a donation stall on which are offered plants for visitors and participants who use the gardens. This helps sustain the current infrastructure as the garden has no allocated budget. Surplus produce and cut flowers are shared with patients and staff throughout the campus. 

They are the welcoming face of our Growing Spaces and work with a range of third sector organisations, as well as staff and patient groups, to share and promote the benefits of our greenspaces. They are always looking to improve their work and will happily act on suggestions, attracting positive feedback from those who visit the gardens. 

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – Volunteer Welcome Guides (10-year anniversary)  

When the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened to the public in spring 2015, a team of 100 volunteers were recruited to be the friendly faces people needed when arriving at one of the largest acute hospital campuses in Europe. Ten years later, 30 of those 100 people are still actively serving as welcome guides, marking a decade of commitment.  

The volunteers come from a diverse range of backgrounds and include former patients, NHS employees and aspiring medical students, as well as a 91-year-old participant which is truly inspiring. This long-term dedication and diverse experience undoubtedly contribute significantly to the welcoming and supportive atmosphere.  

The welcome guides play a vital role in supporting patients, families and visitors and helping to alleviate stress. By dedicating on average 150 hours per week, they ensure a positive experience for those entering the hospital and help to guide individuals to their desired destinations.  

gold and silver stars

Introduction

The Care Home Education Facilitators (CHEFs) provide support to current and potential Practice Learning Environments (PLEs, clinical placements) for undergraduate student nurses. Non-NHS placements work with different governance and legislative system from the NHS and the CHEFs, therefore provide a more bespoke way of supporting nursing and care teams. Here is a poster about the role of Care Home Education Facilitators, and more details about the role can be found here.

Care homes can provide excellent learning opportunities for nursing students and students from a variety of other healthcare professions. In providing these learning experiences, they also expose these students to the possibility of a valued career in the care home sector and non-NHS settings on completion of their studies. 

NHS Education England mapped all the NMC proficiencies and skills that students must achieve to various non-NHS placements. They created the guide below so students and practice supervisors can easily see all that they can achieve in a care home or similar placement. 

Resources for care home Practice Supervisors and Practice Assessors

There are usually fewer Practice Supervisors (PS) and Practice Assessors (PA) in care homes than in NHS PLEs, and many PS are senior carers / nursing assistants rather than nurses. Our experience and feedback is that bespoke tools and resources are required to help and support these staff members in this role, as many don’t have other PS/PAs for immediate support. We offer additional support to non nurse PS on aspects of the NMC code, NMC role and the content of a nursing degree as many will be unfamiliar with this. 

Further support for staff

There are many other group and 1-to-1 sessions that CHEFs can support staff with in line with the national CHEF role descriptor and the Practice Education priorities: 

  • General updates and support visits  
  • PAD (completing the student paperwork)  
  • An introduction to Future Nurse (proficiencies for ALL nurses) and SSSA (student supervision and assessment guidelines)  
  • Registering and using the free Turas Learn online learning system & CHEF Turas learning catalogue.  
  • The NMC Practice supervisor and Practice assessor roles – flexibility in practice examples.  
  • Using the Turas professional portfolio for CPL, CPD and revalidation.  
  • NMC Revalidation workshops  
  • Working with students with competency or professionalism difficulties including creating development support plans DSP 
  • Updating and using QMPLE  (quality management system for practice learning environments) 
  • The open university degree – awareness session  
  • Signing off platform proficiencies and skills annexes in the PAD
  • Exploring complex proficiencies and skills for students 
  • Supporting PS / PA to make reasonable adjustments for students (religion, disabilities, mental ill health etc.)  
  • Completing the student final assessment and grading matrix.  
  • Using the student activity “grab bags” as a resource  
  • Creating a student welcome pack  
  • Using the national pharmacology workbook with students 
  • Using the Care Home placement workbook with students 
  • Clinical supervision – CHEFs delivering guided reflection for staff (short term)  
  • Teaching of the entire practice supervisor / assessor content rather than it being self-directed – small 1-hour sessions over 6 weeks. (a quality improvement trial 2024-2025)
Placement resources that students should access

All information about individual care homes and similar placements is stored and accessible in the online platform QMPLE – the quality management of the practice learning environment website. The “suggested reading” section on QMPLE contains links to videos and resources that students should access prior to, and during their non-NHS placement. Please discuss with your CHEF if you would like QMPLE access as a care home staff member.

Student care home placement case studies

In order that students make the most of their Care home, or Non-NHS placements the CHEFs have devised these case studies – Case Study 1 and Case Study 2 to help give an overview of how your placement might work.

Example placement timetable

This example timetable will help you and your Practice Supervisors plan for learning and development opportunities. You can download a copy and modify for your own placement. We also have a blank copy of 8-week timetable for students available.

Care home workbook 

Nationally, the CHEFs created a Care Homes Workbook which we advise all students to print off and complete during their placements, as this may provide evidence to practice supervisors and practice assessors of achieve proficiencies and skills.   

Expectations of student and supervisors on care home placements 

The below 3 links will indicate to you examples of care, nursing activities and behaviours expected of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year students on placement, as well as a reminder of what to expect from supervisors and assessors 

Expectations for 1st year (part 1) students 
Expectations for 2nd year (part 2) students 
Expectations for 3rd year (part 3) students 
Activities 3rd year students should be undertaking

Pharmacology workbook 

This NES Pharmacology Learning Resources Toolkit is also very helpful especially as many care activities around medicines management are very different in care homes.

“Grab bag” activities 

Lastly, these “Grab bag” activities were created so that if clinical activity is really busy or your supervisor (usually the only nurse or senior carer on duty) is called away to an urgent task which wouldn’t be appropriate for student learning; students can complete one of these activities, using evidence, research and local policy, and I relate it directly to the care of the residents in the clinical area. 

Grab Bag instructions
Continence
Prescribing
Pressure ulcer prevention and management
Respiratory Care
Stress and Distress
Urinary Tract Infection

Raising concerns about care or practice on clinical placements
Turas protocol and templates

Other CHEF educational support

Aside from facilitating student nurse education in care homes, we also provide bespoke education sessions for care home staff in a number of NHS Education for Scotland (NES) initiatives and useful development sessions.  

At present we offer: 

The above links will provide general information on these programmes, but please contact your CHEF if you would like more information on bespoke provision within your care home or clinical environment. 

Lastly, we wish to provide links to many other resources for care home staff to help in your own CPD, but also for the education of students and learners in practice:

CHEF contact details

East and West Glasgow City and East Dunbartonshire  
Allan Dickins RNA 
allan.dickins@nhs.scot 
07789 271 460 

Glasgow City South, Inverclyde, Renfrew and West Dunbartonshire 
Jamie Gillies RNA 
jamie.gillies2@nhs.scot 
07901 587 862

Fiona McCartney RNA
fiona.mccartney@nhs.scot
07971 966 784

Learning Resource Overview

Supporting the development of your staff is an essential part of your role. It ensures your team members have the competence and confidence to provide the best possible service. This learning resource explores how to maximise the effectiveness of the KSF Personal Development Planning and Review process for your staff team.

How the Learning Resource works

The resource has 2 core elements and links to a wider learning pathway.

  • learnPro e-Learning Module (GGC:166 NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework) contains a range of information and resources to provide underpinning knowledge on the KSF Personal Development Planning and Review process and on good practice in developing your staff. It can be accessed on the learnPro platform and can be found under the CPD tab.
  • Virtual Sessions (1.5 hours) are also available for Reviewers and Managers with the focus on the application of learning around this, in particular to:
    • Give participants the opportunity to reflect on their role in developing their staff
    • Identify ways to make reviews more meaningful in practice
    • Identify key actions to progress KSF PDP&R in participants own area

Who is this Learning Resource aimed at?

Any Manager or KSF Reviewer in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who has responsibility for managing or reviewing NHSGGC staff in their teams. This includes Managers and KSF Reviewers employed in integrated Health and Social Care Partnerships who are not directly employed by NHSGGC and require to support NHS staff with their KSF PDP&R.

Pre-Requisites

For Reviewers/ Managers who are attending the Virtual Sessions within this resource, there are some pre-requisites prior to attending. They should:  

  • Complete the learnPro e-Learning Module (GGC 166 NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework) which provides underpinning knowledge and resources
  • Complete the Reflective Template (issued as part of the joining instructions). In order to get the most out of the time during the virtual session, staff are expected to have completed a brief template to capture their reflections/ experience of KSF PDP&R in practice.
  • Also all potential candidates should explore the People Management Guide.

Virtual Session

To book a place on the course, please use the eESS Login (scot.nhs.uk) Learner Self-Service facility. From the Learner Home page, enter the course name in the box at the top of the page to see all available dates. You can also use keywords to search for courses. Remember to have your eESS user id and password available to access the system.

Course dates

Tuesday 27th May 2025, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (MS Teams)

Tuesday 17th June 2025, 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm (MS Teams)

Wednesday 16th July 2025, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (MS Teams)

Monday 11th August 2025, 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm (MS Teams)

Thursday 18th September 2025, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (MS Teams)

Tuesday 7th October 2025, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (MS Teams)

Monday 3rd November 2025, 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm (MS Teams)

Wednesday 10th December 2025, 9.30 am – 11.00 am (MS Teams)

You will receive detailed joining instructions on how to access the on-line session. Please be ready to log-in at least 5 minutes before the start time.

Please note booking for each session will close 1 week before the course date to allow time for joining instructions to be sent to delegates.

Guidance on how to search for Learning and Development on eESS can be found here:

Full access to all Standard Operating Procedures and e-learning videos is available via Login (scot.nhs.uk).

If you have any queries around the KSF PDP&R process, please contact the Learning and Education Support team on 0141 278 2700 option 3.

Last updated: 09/05/2025

The Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) applies to all staff who are employed under Agenda for Change (AFC) terms and conditions. It is a broad framework which supports a fair and consistent approach to Personal Development Planning and Review (PDP&R).

The PDP&R process enables staff to discuss what matters to them in their role, be clear about what’s expected of them and receive feedback, as well as having the opportunity to review any learning, development and support required. TURAS Appraisal is the electronic tool used to support that process and record the outcomes from it.

The resources below are designed to assist staff and managers to have meaningful PDP&R conversations and to record the outcomes effectively on TURAS Appraisal.

PDP & Review – Guidance for Managers and Reviewers

An important part of the PDP&R process is the conversation between reviewer and reviewee. The annual review provides an opportunity to build on the regular conversations that you have with your team throughout the year.

The information below forms part of a Learning Pathway which details a range of resources to help you prepare for and conduct effective PDP & Review discussions with staff and ensure they are recorded on TURAS Appraisal.

Learning Resources

Developing Your Staff – Meaningful Reviews (People Management Module)

Supporting the development of your staff is an essential part of your role. It ensures that your team members develop their competence and confidence in order to provide the best possible service. This learning resource explores underpinning values, tools and techniques to support continuing development.

Additional Information

PDP & Review – Guidance for Reviewees

An important part of the PDP&R process is the conversation between the reviewer and reviewee. The annual review provides an opportunity to build on the regular conversations about performance and development that you have had with your manager throughout the year.

There are a range of resources detailed within the Learning Pathway to help you prepare for and participate in effective PDP and review discussions with your reviewer and record these on TURAS Appraisal.

Additional Information

TURAS Appraisal System – Guidance

How can I access TURAS Appraisal?

Forgotten your TURAS Appraisal Password?

You can usually reset your password for TURAS Appraisal quickly and easily yourself, without any need to contact the Learning and Education support team.  

Simply follow the steps below:  

Click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link.

Add email address and click ‘Send verification code’

A code will then be emailed to the address you gave.   Please leave the TURAS page opened until the code arrives, then copy and past it into the ‘Verification code’ section and click ‘Verify code’ and then ‘Continue’.

This then allows the password to be reset

To add or remove staff from Managers Page on TURAS Appraisal

To add staff to a Managers page on TURAS Appraisal, please complete the Turas Staff List Template and submit to the Learning and Education Support Team via the HR ServiceNow Portal. This should be done for new staff or when staff move to another department.

If the member of staff is leaving NHSGGC completely – no action is required. Once terminated from the Payroll system they will automatically be removed from manager’s list on TURAS Appraisal.

Need help with TURAS Appraisal?

TURAS Appraisal is the recording tool for the KSF Personal Development Planning and Review (PDP & R) process and is designed to be used throughout the year to support your ongoing development in line with your job role, service requirements and career aspirations.

Last Updated 23rd April 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get access to the TURAS Appraisal system?

If you have previously logged on to your account and have forgotten your password you can reset it using the “Forgotten your Password?” link on the sign in page.

This quick guide gives information on the process for new staff. If you are a new user and you don’t have a username or password, please speak to your line manager who will contact Learning and Education to get you added to their TURAS Appraisal managers page and request a username and password for you. This will be issued by Learning and Education, direct to you, by e-mail.

I don’t see TURAS Appraisal when I login to my TURAS Account – why not?

You can’t add TURAS Appraisal into an existing TURAS account yourself. If you contact the Learning and Education Support Team via NHS Service Now or call 0141 278 2700 option 3 they will provide login details for your TURAS Appraisal account. You can continue with separate login details for your different TURAS applications or L&E Support will advise how you can get the National Digital Team to merge your accounts so that you have the one login for all TURAS applications.

Not all the staff are listed on my managers page that should be. How do I add staff?

To add staff to your Turas Appraisal account please complete the Staff List Template and send this to Learning and Education Support Unit via NHS Service Now.

The form has to be completed by the manager/PA only, not the staff member. Only new or missing staff are to be added to the form, existing staff members should not be put on.

I need to allocate some of the staff on my managers page to other people in my team to carry out their review – how do I do this?

You can easily do this from your managers page.

See the user guide for instructions: How to Assign KSF Post Outlines and Reviewers to Staff

I need to allocate new/different post outlines to some of the staff on my managers page – how do I do this?

You can easily do this from your managers page. See the user guide for instructions: How to Assign KSF Post Outlines and Reviewers to Staff

I’ve Retired and Returned and my TURAS Appraisal has all changed – what do I do?

The information relating to your previous posts is still visible to you however if you had staff assigned to you this will need to be updated. This quick guide gives information on what you need to do.

How can I access my teams progress reports to check compliance?

TURAS Appraisal now has live Team Progress Dashboards. Both managers and reviewers will be able to view live information for the staff that they have assigned to them on TURAS Appraisal including the compliance percentage of signed off reviews, status of reviews, information on PDPs, objectives and also a to do list where there are outstanding actions. Users guides below:

I know work is happening on Protected Learning Time and recording of it – How does it link to Personal Development Planning & Review and TURAS Appraisal?

Three National Workstreams have been established: 1) Core Training & Training Passport, 2) System modifications and 3) Measures. There is a working group at Board level in NHSGGC which links into these and takes forward the work. Further information is available on the Protected Learning Time Sharepoint page.

Additional Information

User Guides
Managers and Reviewers – TURAS Appraisal Account

Keeping your TURAS Appraisal account up to date

To add staff to your TURAS Appraisal account:

  • Please complete the Staff List Template and forward this to the Learning and Education Support Team via the NHS Service Now Portal.
  • The form has to be completed by the manager/PA only, not the staff member
  • Only new or missing staff are to be added to the form, existing staff members should not be put on.

To remove staff from your TURAS Appraisal Account:

  • If the member of staff is leaving NHSGGC completely – No action is required. Once terminated from the Payroll system they will automatically be deleted from TURAS Appraisal
  • If the member of staff is moving to another department – contact the Learning and Education Support Team via NHS Service Now providing the name and payroll number of the member of staff to be removed

Assigning reviewer rights to members of staff that you want to review members of your team:

  • At this time only the Learning and Education Support Team can assign reviewer rights. To arrange this the manager of the person that reviewer rights is required for should contact the Learning and Education Support Team via NHS Service Now. Please provide name and payroll number of the person that reviewer rights is to be assigned to.

Assigning a reviewer and assigning/changing a KSF Post Outline for staff:

Reports

Reports are available from the Team Progress Dashboard on your TURAS Appraisal account. If you have manager or Reviewer access to the system and have staff assigned to your account you will automatically have access to the dashboard.

The Team Progress report will give you live information on compliance rate for your team with regards to reviews, PDPs and objectives. It also has a to do list to alert you if any actions are required.

KSF Post Outline Information

Approved KSF Outlines in NHSGGC

This link will provide you with information on all KSF post outlines for NHSGGC staff. You will be able to view the title, pay band, all dimensions and levels included in the KSF post outline.  

It does not included the level descriptions but you will find these in the documents below and also in the KSF handbook.

Occasionally there may be a KSF Post Outline on the spreadsheet that will not be on TURAS Appraisal. This is because on the day e-KSF was decommissioned the KSF Post Outline was not assigned to any members of staff, only KSF Post Outlines in use were migrated to TURAS Appraisal. 

Help and Support Contacts

Learning and Education Support Team

  • NHS Service Now Portal – Click on the L&E Icon and fill in the relevant fields. You will receive an acknowledgement which will include a ticket number for your query. How to raise a query through NHS Service Now Portal.
  • 0141 278 2700 (12700 internally) – choose option 3 for Learning and Education. Open 10.00am – 3.00pm, Monday to Friday

Please supply your GGC payroll number when you contact the team.  

Following discussion at the Area Partnership Forum (APF) and at the Area Joint Trade Union & Professional Organisation’s Committee (JOC), please note the key discussion point links below.

Leadership is an integral component of all Healthcare Scientists (HCS) and HCS Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) roles across the whole career pathway.

Whatever your role or level of practice, there is information and resources available to support your leadership development.

Update March 2022 

This resource is being redeveloped. More training will be added when it is confirmed new sessions are scheduled in 2022.

Communications training currently available can be accessed from the headings below:

Anticipatory Care Planning (ACP) Communication Skills Training

We have developed a training session to help staff reflect on the best way to incorporate ACP conversations into their everyday practice.

Provider: Macmillan ACP Programme Team

Duration: 2 hours

Bereavement Awareness Sessions for Staff

These brief sessions aim to increase your understanding, and help you feel better informed and more confident in communicating with and supporting grieving families.

Provider: Child Bereavement UK/NHSGGC Bereavement Service

Duration: 1 hour

Communication Skills – Foundation

This Workshop is licensed and is appropriate for all staff groups. The Sage and Thyme Workshop is based upon evidence relating to core communication skills, psychological assessment and support.

The three hour workshop, run by three facilitators, teaches up to 30 delegates on how to use a structured approach for getting in and out of a conversation with someone who is upset or distressed, while providing basic psychological support. The workshop uses a mix of small group work, lectures and interactive rehearsals based on participant’s scenarios to teach and demonstrate a structure approach to noticing distress, hearing concerns and responding helpfully.

NB. In addition to the calendar sessions this training can also be delivered on request to teams or groups.

Provider: Acute Palliative Care Practice Development Team

Duration: 3 hours

Communication Skills – Realistic Conversations: Skills To Support TEP Conversations

A Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP) is a communication tool which is helpful in hospital when a person with serious illness has the potential for acute deterioration or may be coming towards the end of their life. Sometimes doing everything possible may actually lead to harm – to more suffering and distress rather than less – and without any particular gain. What can be done and what should be done may not necessarily be the same thing. Treatment Escalation Plans should be discussed and made based on personalised realistic goals rather than ‘one size fits all’ treatment.

Provider: EC4H

Duration: 75 minutes

GGC 28: Anticipatory Care Planning

The aim of this module is to provide staff with a general understanding of the Anticipatory Care Planning process. The module is in 6 sections, each covering a different aspect:

  1. What do we mean by Anticipatory Care Planning?
  2. Who needs an Anticipatory Care Plan
  3. Why is Anticipatory Care Planning required?
  4. When should an Anticipatory Care Plan be discussed?
  5. How do we have good Anticipatory Care Planning conversations?
  6. Where can we store and access Anticipatory Care Planning information?

Provider: LearnPro

Duration: 1 hour

Assertiveness

This course is designed to help delegates to understand what assertiveness is, and when to use it. Assertiveness can improve performance and help with the management of difficult people and situations.

Provider: LearnPro

Duration: 45 minutes

British Sign Language – Booking Interpreters

There are over 4000 Deaf people using British Sign Language (BSL) in the NHSGGC area. By law, we must provide an interpreter for our Deaf patients, both at health appointments and when they are in hospital. This new video has been produced to show staff how and when to book a British Sign Language Interpreter for patients. It explains why it is so essential to provide interpreting support for our Deaf patients and looks at additional methods of communication.

Provider: LearnPro – Equality and Human Rights Team (CIT)

Duration: 1-2 hours

Conflict and Challenging Behaviour

This course is suitable for staff who have minimal direct contact with patients or members of the public but may be exposed to occasional verbal abuse e.g. in reception areas where staff work behind desks or screens. This course focuses on risk assessment, self awareness, proactive service delivery and good communication skills. Access this training in the Specialist Subject section of LearnPro.

Provider: LearnPro

Duration: 1-2 hours

Conflict Management

In order to manage conflict you will need to learn about the causes of conflict and how you can minimise the effects or prevent conflict from occurring. It is also important to know what do if conflict does occur in order to support your team and deal with any adverse effects.

Provider: LearnPro

Duration: 1-2 hours

Managing Effective Meetings

An increasingly important communication skill for anyone involved in supervisory management is that of managing effective meetings. Whether the meetings are low key or of great significance, the principles and issues are the same when it comes to chairing them successfully and this module will guide delegates through the skills and tasks required to master. 

Provider: LearnPro

Duration: 1-2 hours

GC231: Carer Awareness Training Core Information

This module offers you the opportunity to explore the principles and practices of the NHSGGC Carers Pathway, how carers are identified, provided with relevant information and signposted to support. 

Provider: Health Improvement

Duration: 30 minutes

On this page

Death in Service

Dealing with a death of an employee can be a difficult and emotionally demanding experience. As the line manager, you will most likely be involved in communicating with partners and/or family members during this time with regards to death in service benefits, pensions and final salary arrangements.

To help ensure that our Payroll service and Human Resources are provided with sufficient and accurate information relating to employees who die in service, please review the below guidance which includes a checklist of what is required and a flowchart of the process to follow. This helps Human Resources and Payroll when notifying the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) and enables the efficient administration of death-in-service benefits to surviving partners and dependants. 

Please also note the template letters that you may wish to use to confirm details with the partner/family members.

We appreciate that this is a very sensitive subject and if you require any further advice or guidance, please do not hesitate to contact the HR Support and Advice Unit on 0141 278 2700 (option 2) or through the HR Portal at https://nhsnss.service-now.com/ggc_hr.

Documentation

Employee Exit Process

Exit Interview

When a member of staff is leaving NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, we would ask that all managers ensure appropriate steps are taken to assist their exit and to ensure the relevant paperwork and Board belongings are returned. The leavers checklist below will ensure you follow all relevant steps required when an employee is leaving.

eESS has been the main mechanism for employees to complete an exit interview questionnaire. However, this provides challenges in obtaining relevant data and trends and has not been widely used within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Therefore, a refreshed exit interview process has been introduced within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which will allow an opportunity for employees and managers to have a meaningful discussion and complete an exit interview questionnaire. The refreshed process will also include the ability to transfer exit interview data in to eESS to allow reporting and analysis.

An electronic form, mirroring eESS exit interview questionnaire, is available for managers and employees to complete together and to enable a meaningful discussion regarding the employees experience. A paper form, mirroring eESS exit interview questionnaire is also available as a contingency and for any services with limited access to PCs and/ or laptops.

An employee can still choose to complete an exit interview through eESS employee self service or the electronic form without a manager, if they wish.

Fixed Term Contracts

The Fixed Term Policy applies to all individuals who work under a fixed term contract of employment. The purpose of the policy is to provide clear principles and values which will govern the appropriate use of fixed-term contracts ensuring compliance with legislation governing fixed-term employees.

The policy provides a procedure for dealing with fixed-term contracts which is fair and equitable and has both the interests of the employee and the effective operation of the service as its goals.

Top Tips on using the policy:

  1. All fixed-term contracts should have a start and end date or specified duration.
  2. Fixed-Term contracts should have no more than two renewals within any one year period (unless this can be objectively justified).
  3. Fixed-Term employees should not be treated any less favourably than permanent employees.
  4. All fixed-term contract employees should have their position reviewed mid-term.

Policy

NHSGGC is committed to using permanent contracts of employment as the norm, with fixed term contracts only being used where necessary and appropriate.  This policy applies to all individuals who work under a fixed term contract.  The policy has been developed in partnership, and  meets the minimum standards set out in the Fixed Term Contracts Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policy and reflects current employment legislation.

Board Fixed Term Contracts Policy

Please contact the HR Support and Advice Unit if you wish clarification on the application of this policy.

Fixed Term Contracts Policy Guidance

What is a fixed term contract?

A fixed-term contract of employment is defined as a contract of employment which: has a definite start and end date, or terminates automatically when a particular task is completed, or terminates after a specific event or project is concluded. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to using permanent contracts of employment as the norm, with fixed-term contracts only being used where necessary and appropriate. Furthermore, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to treating those employed on fixed-term contracts no less favourably than its permanent employees (unless this can be objectively justified).

Who does the Fixed Term Contract Policy apply to?

The policy applies to all individuals who work under a fixed term contract of employment (i.e. for a specific time that is fixed in advance; or terminates on the completion of a particular task; or terminates on upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any other specified event).

When should Fixed Term Contracts be used?

In certain exceptional circumstances, fixed-term contracts may be a valuable tool to enable managers to cover short-term gaps in essential services, enabling consistent standards of service to be maintained. Fixed Term Contracts should only be used for a time limited, short term option of less than 2 years (unless objectively justified). Examples of where Fixed Term Contracts may be used are:

  • Protecting posts for staff due to organisational change
  • Covering leave (e.g. sickness, maternity leave)
  • Project or research posts
  • Posts which are not funded on a recurring basis
  • Backfill for short-term secondment

Useful information when advertising for a Fixed Term Contract

The duration of the contract must be clearly defined and the reason for the fixed-term nature of the post.The fixed-term nature of the post should be clearly evident in the advertisement, job information pack, letter offering employment and subsequent contract of employment. It should also be discussed at interview.

Where existing permanent employees apply for a fixed-term contract, and where NHS GG&C does permit such an appointment, it must be made clear (in writing) to the employee that in doing so their existing permanent contract has come to an end, and their new contract is fixed-term.

Where there is a need to make the post permanent

Where there is a requirement to make the post permanent the post should be advertised in the normal way. Where successive fixed-term contacts apply staff may be automatically appointed to the post in line with the criteria in Section 6.2 of the policy.

Process to be followed for non-renewals of Fixed Term Contracts

Where it is known that an employee’s fixed term contract will not be renewed upon expiry, the relevant manager with the authority to dismiss must meet with the employee, ideally three months prior to the expiry date of the contract to discuss the following:

  • Confirm that the fixed term contract will not be renewed and to confirm the grounds for non renewal
  • To serve the employee with notice in line with their contract of employment and that their contract will be terminated on its expiry date
  • To advise the employee that they will be placed on the redeployment register, and to discuss the redeployment process. The employee should be advised that they will remain on the register until date of the fixed-term contract
  • To confirm where appropriate, any redundancy payment which will apply should suitable alternative employment not be obtained.
  • To discuss any other matters in preparation for the termination date.
  • For those with service under 2 years, or where it is known that the contract will not be renewed within 3 months of the date achieving 2 years service, if the employee had not secured an alternative post prior to the end of their notice period, their employment will be terminated at the end of their contract period.
  • Employees in excess of 2 years service (with successive Fixed Term Contracts) will be appointed onto a permanent contract where the following criteria is met in full:
  • The employee has held fixed term contracts consecutively which were used to protect posts for permanent staff due to planned organisational change, service reconfiguration or redeployment, and
  • The member of staff has been employed for more than 2 years, and
  • Recurring funds for the post beyond the two-year period exist, which can be used to retain the member of staff, or a positive risk assessment has been carried out to establish the impact on the organisation should it be non-recurring funding.
  • (In situations where an employee achieves two years’ service, and it is known that the contract will not be renewed within three months of the date of achieving two years’ service, the individual’s contract of employment will remain fixed term).

The material contained in this section is management guidance, rather than guidance that has been agreed in partnership.

The HR Support and Advice Unit can be contacted on 0141 278 2700 if you have any further questions or need advice on this policy area.

Fixed Term Contracts Tools and Templates

To support the application of the use of Fixed Term Contacts a number of templates are available. Please contact the HR Support and Advice Unit who will guide you accordingly.

Student Fixed Term Contracts

We would like to welcome all students who have started or are about to start employment with NHSGGC. You will find a number of FAQ’s below that will hopefully be helpful to you in the initial stages of joining NHS GGC as an employee. For more general information about your terms and conditions, including the NHS Scotland Workforce Polices, you will find this on HR Connect.

Please take the time to review the following documents and our frequently asked questions.

Preparing to start as a clinical Health Care Support Worker Document

Retirement

This guidance applies to all substantive employees who wish to retire and facilitates a smooth transition from work to leisure. 

The Once for Scotland Workforce Retirement Policy can be found here.

Thinking of Retiring? Please read Important Changes to SPPA application dates.

Phased Retiral Policy

Employees are entitled to Phased Retiral if they are applying for their State Pension or Occupational Pension (SPPA) and terminating their employment with the Organisation

A gradual reduction in hours may be introduced three months before retiring, for example:

Third month before retiral: work 4 days per week

Second month: work 3 days p/w

Last month: work 2 days p/w

* Pro-rata for part time staff

Employees will have the opportunity to attend a pre-retirement course to prepare them for their retirement.

For employees with 20 years or more continuous service with NHS GG&C, line managers can apply for a Retiral Gift Voucher.

Please contact the HR Support and Advice Unit if you have any questions in relation to this policy.

Guidance

Employees are entitled to Phased Retiral is they are applying for their State Pension or Occupational Pension (SPPA) and terminating their employment with the Organisation.

How does Phased Retiral work?

For a full time employee working 5 days per week for example, a gradual reduction in hours would be as follows:

  • Third month before retiral: 4 days per week
  • Two months before retiral: 3 days per week
  • One month before retiral: 2 days per week

For part time staff, this is calculated on a pro rata basis. 

Will I receive my normal pay during a phased retiral?

Yes. Employees will receive their normal pay during a phased retiral – this being their standard hours. This does not include unearned overtime or on-call payments out with standard hours.

How do I arrange a phased retiral?

Employees should inform their line manager of their intentions to retire and whether they wish a phased retiral at the earliest opportunity in order to benefit from this. They should then agree a phased retiral plan with their line manager. A retiral plan can be drawn up and should take into account any annual leave remaining to be used on leading up to retirement. 

For employees who are members of the SPPA pension scheme:

  • Pension applications and notification of termination should be completed 4-6 months before the date of retiral in order to ensure that pensions are paid timeously. Pension application forms can be downloaded here.
  • Termination forms should be completed by line managers.
  • Completed applications and termination forms should be and returned to Payroll:

NHSGG&C Payroll Department
Caledonia House
140 Fifty Pitches Road
Cardonald Park
Glasgow
G51 4ED

If you require advice on completing your pension application form, please contact the SPPA directly on 01896 893 000

Retiral Gift Voucher

Employees with more than 20 years continuous service with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will be entitled to a Retiral Gift Voucher as detailed below:

  • With more than 20 years continuous service with NHSGGC but less than 30 years: £100
  • With 30 or more years continuous service with NHSGGC but less than 40 years: £150
  • With 40 or more years continuous service with NHSGGC: £250

Line Managers must take responsibility to make arrangements for employees’ long service to be recognised by completing the Retiral Gift Voucher form.

Pre-Retirement Courses

Employees have the opportunity to attend a pre-retirement course where they will have access to a wide range of information to help them prepare for their retirement.

Course information and booking forms are available from Learning and Education.

Health check from Occupational Health

To encourage a long and healthy retiral, employees will have access to a health check and advice from the Occupational Health Service. To arrange a health check contact OH on 0141 201 0600.

The HR Support and Advice Unit can be contacted on 0141 278 2700 if you have any further questions or need advice on this policy area.

Retiral Gift Vouchers

Application Process

Line managers should complete all sections of the Retiral Gift Voucher Application Form found below, including providing (or obtaining) a relevant management signature.

Retiral Gift Voucher Application Form – PDF
Retiral Gift Voucher Application Form – EXCEL

Endowments cannot process any application sent directly to them before it has been countersigned by HR. In order for HR do the requisite checks and countersign the form, line managers can send it to the HR Support and Advice Unit by submitting a HR enquiry via HR Portal (the original form can then be placed in the employee’s personal file).

Completed forms will then be checked, counter-signed and automatically sent by HR straight to Endowments on the line manager’s behalf.

Endowments Section process vouchers and contact the line manager to arrange collection from Endowments Section, Finance Department, Caledonia House 140 Fifty Pitches Road, Cardonald Glasgow G51 4ED for presentation to the employee.

Should the employee choose not to have a presentation, the line manager must arrange for the vouchers to be delivered to the employee before the retirement date accompanied by a suitable letter.

For more information please see Board Retiral Gift Guidance

SPPA Age Retirement Form

Scottish Public Pensions Agency – Changes to our retirement application forms February 2022

Based on feedback from you, we have made some changes to our retirement forms, modifying the NHS RET form into two separate forms, one for Practitioner members called the PRAC:RET and one for all other NHS workers called the NHS:RET.

This process will make things simpler for you, allowing a smoother process from application to calculation.

PRAC:RET Form

The new Practitioner retirement form should be used by any member that has held Practitioner service at any time during their career.

The PRAC:RET form has undergone cosmetic changes and the priority of the Practitioner elements have been re-ordered. Further explanations have been added regarding Practitioner terminology, to make filling in the form easier.

There are no changes to the retirement process for our Practitioner members or employers, this form simply replaces the old one.

NHS:RET Form

Members who have only had their service reported as Officer service will continue to use the standard retirement form, NHS:RET

The NHS:RET form has undergone cosmetic changes including the removal of the Practitioner sections.

What you need to do

Please start using the new forms. We realise there may be members who are actively filling in the older form or have an older version saved to complete at a later date. Please continue to complete this form, we expect to see a gradual transition to the use of the new forms.

You can access the new forms here.

If you or any of your colleagues have any questions regarding this change, please contact us at sppacontactus@gov.scot and we will try our best to help.

SPPA Guidance for Active Members:

http://www.sppa.gov.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=19

SPPA Partial Retirement

Partial Retirement is a flexible option that enables NHS Pension Scheme members to continue working while receiving some or all of their pension benefits. Members can apply for partial retirement twice and after that they will need to fully retire to access their remaining pension.

If you are applying for Partial Retirement, you must submit a Flexible Working Application Form to your line manager. Once agreed, your line manager should issue a Flexible Working Agreement. Once approved by your line manager, the completed form should be sent to HR by submitting a ticket via HR Portal.

The NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde guidance on Partial Retirement can be found here.

Career Grade Medics can use the Notional PA Calculator when looking to reduce their overall PA commitment.

Further information can be found on SPPA Website. SPPA can be contacted directly at sppacontactus@gov.scot.

Voluntary Retirement and Re-Employment

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde values diversity and recognises the significant experience and knowledge that our staff with long service contribute to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The Board works within a changing demography and as the population grows older, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s employment practices need to adapt to reflect the increasing age of our workforce and provide staff with flexibility in managing their financial future by creating options to work post retirement.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has Voluntary Retirement and Re-employment Guidance in place (Retire and Return) and this is being accessed across the Board by staff members and managers. Work has been ongoing to review this nationally and a new NHS Scotland Interim Arrangement on Retire and Return has been issued for implementation across all NHS Scotland Boards.

Please note this is an interim position, active from 30th August 2022, pending consultation on a full Once for Scotland NHS Scotland Retirement Policy.

Addendum for Medical and Dental Staff : Consultant and Associate Specialist Grades

Any Medical and Dental Consultant returning to work following retirement can only be re-employed on a Locum Consultant basis (part-time) and will be paid on their former seniority point excluding any distinction awards/discretionary points. Their appointment will be in line with the National Terms and Conditions of Service for a locum appointment and the balance of their job plan should be towards direct clinical care sessions.

An Associate Specialist returning to work following retirement should be aware that this is now a closed grade and as such they can be re-employed on a Locum Consultant basis (part-time), subject to the Terms and Conditions for a locum appointment.

Purpose

The purpose of this Interim Arrangement is to:

  • Make it easier to for employees to take their pension and return to work in the NHS. 
  • Retain skills and experience in the NHS.  Allow employees to continue to contribute to the NHS, ensuring it continues to provide high quality care to the people of Scotland

The new arrangement means that the usual recruitment process is not required for an employee to return on a part-time basis to:

  • the same job
    • a different role within the same job family at the same or a lower grade.

Process for Applying

  • Employees should complete the Retire and Return application form for consideration. 
  • This should be submitted at the same time as they apply for their pension. 
  • The employee has the right of appeal within 14 calendar days against a decision to refuse a request for retire and return.

Other Options

In addition to the Retire and Return process, employees can also: 

  • Retire and apply through normal recruitment process for a different role.
    • Retire and apply to join the staff bank.
    • Discuss flexible working options with their manager as an alternative to retirement. 

Key Points to Note

  • Retire and return arrangements can now be substantive.
  • The individual will be re-employed on the most recent pay point on their basic salary scale if returning to their current, or an equivalent, post. This rate of pay will not include any protection of earnings applicable to their previous role or any allowances, unless they relate to the new part time role.
  • If placed in a lower banded post then consideration will be given to salary placement in the band as a result of experience.
  • Contractual NHS benefits (sickness and annual leave entitlements) will be applied as per Section 12 of Agenda for Change Terms and Conditions. Unless the employee has previously been made redundant and then the provisions of Section 16 apply.
  • A break of more than 1 full week will impact on an individual’s Continuity of Employment (for the purpose of statutory entitlements).
  • Introduction of appeal process.
  • Re-employment to another job family or promoted posts must be advertised and recruited as per normal recruitment processes.
  • Medical and Dental Consultants will only be re-employed on a Locum Contract and this will be considered on a case by case basis, dependent on service demands.
  • The Coronavirus Act 2020 contained temporary measures that suspended the 16-hour rule which prevented staff who return to work from working more than 16-hours per week in the first month following retirement. This is due to end on 31 October 2022 and individuals should seek personal pension advice before applying.

DL (2022) 30 provides further information regarding NHS Scotland’s Interim Arrangements for Retire & Return.

In the first instance please discuss the options with your line manager and you may also wish to contact SPPA on 01896 893000 (if a member) to establish and understand impact on pension benefits and obtain an Application Form.

If you wish to apply for Retire and Return please complete the Retire and Return Application Form.

If you would like like to discuss any part of the guidance in more detail, please contact the HR Support and Advice Enquiry Team on 0141 278 2700 option 2. 

NHS Pension Schemes 2023/11