Information on Loughborough

Ten days left to vote for Andy

Posted on 22/06/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Adult Social Care Service

22 June 2009

Ten days left to vote for Andy

Residents have just 10 days left to vote for an exceptional County Council worker who is in the running for a prestigious national award.

Andy Hollingshead has been shortlisted for a Council Worker of the Year Award and people have until next Thursday (2nd July) to show their support and vote for him to win.

By bringing in simple but innovative procedures such as pocket-sized guides, special lone-worker training and satellite tracking, Andy has helped to cut the number of assaults on social care staff by a staggering 80%.

Incidents have fallen from just over 1,500 in 1998 to under 350 in 2008, helping the County Council become a UK leader in this area. A large majority are not intended assaults but are a result of behavioural or mental health difficulties.

Residents can vote for Andy until 2nd July by:

- visiting www.localgovernmentchannel.com/awards

- texting 'LGATV 2 AndyH' to 80039 (texts charged at standard network rate)

Andy, a finalist in the 'transformation' category, works as a social care health and safety manager and through his 'can do' approach, has enabled hundreds of people to benefit from life-changing projects.

As well as playing an instrumental part in securing 10 national RoSPA awards over the past 11 years, Andy has devoted a considerable amount of his own time to ensure that Rainbows Children's Hospice manages health and safety effectively.

Andy said: "People often blame health and safety as an excuse for other failings - you see it every day on signs saying ‘closed because of health and safety’. We very much have a 'can do' approach in Leicestershire as cocooning people in cotton wool is not the answer.

"It is an honour to be nominated for this award and I am proud that my hard work over the past 11 years has made a difference."

David Sprason, County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Andy has worked incredibly hard to keep our staff safe and supported and has made a huge contribution to helping us deliver better services to the public. I would urge as many people as possible to vote for Andy and give him the recognition he deserves for his exceptional work."

Through sensible assessments and advice which emphasises positive risk-taking, many unique and inspiring projects have taken off including:

- a woodwork group at Millfield Breaking the Barriers project in Hinckley where people with learning disabilities run a business making and selling bird boxes and furniture using power tools and equipment

- an allotment project at Roman Way Day Centre in Market Harborough where people with learning disabilities earn an income growing and selling local produce

- a recycling project in Loughborough and Wigston where people with learning disabilities recycle cans and foil, benefiting the environment

To find out more about the awards and Andy’s story, visit: www.leics.gov.uk/doingmore

Notes:

Assaults to actual Social Workers, as opposed to Social Care staff, are a very small percentage of the number of incidents.

There are 40 finalists from local councils across the UK competing for 10 awards - Innovation, Community Engagement, Transformation, the Green Award, Working with Young People Leadership, Lifetime Service, Team of the Year, Bravery and Caring, and were chosen from over 320 nominations.

The 10 winners are chosen by the public vote and will each receive a trophy and £250.

The winners will be announced by BBC presenter Jeremy Vine at this year's LGA annual conference in Harrogate on 2nd July.

More information is available at:

RoSPA - www.rospa.com   

Social Care -  www.leics.gov.uk/socialcare   

Council Worker of the Year  -  www.localgovernmentchannel.com/awards

Photos/interviews:

To arrange photos and interviews or for more information, please contact the County Council's Press Office on 0116 305 6274.