THE work of health and social care professionals from across the region has been celebrated at the University of Worcester’s tenth annual Mentor Awards.

The awards recognise the contribution that professionals make in supporting the university’s students whilst they are training in the work place.

Twenty-nine individual awards were presented to nurses, midwives, social workers, paramedics and others.

Elizabeth Davies-Ward, head of the school of allied health and community, said: “Everyone we have honoured has their own set of challenges and responsibilities, and yet they have taken the time and care not only to provide placements and mentoring opportunities for the next generation, but to provide truly excellent placements backed up with compassion and support.”

As well as the individual awards, 13 Outstanding Practice Learning Environment awards were presented to NHS departments, charitable organisations, GP’s surgeries and social work teams that have supported the development of the next generation of practitioners by providing student work placements.

Robert Dudley, acting head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University, said: “The placements and support provided by our mentors are crucial in helping our students to feel comfortable and confident in the work place.

“In this, the 10th anniversary year of our mentoring awards, it is important to pause and consider just how significant the contribution of our award winners is. It will not be long before our students are themselves taking their place in the workforce and playing their part in shaping the health services of the future, and the individuals and organisations we are celebrating this evening have played an enormous part in ensuring the next generation is ready to hit the ground running when they take up the mantle.”

The awards were presented by Suzanne Rastrick, chief allied health professions officer at NHS England.

She said: “Good mentorship is an essential vehicle for the transference of knowledge into clinical practice but it also has benefits for the organisations providing mentorship through the promotion of a learning culture, raised standards of patient care, increased staff motivation, improved recruitment and retention and the creation of a more dynamic working environment,” she said.