Nominations open for the Team Orkney Awards - 30 November 2023
NHS Orkney and The Orcadian are working in partnership to launch the Team Orkney Awards, to recognise the vital work, commitment and dedication of health and care staff in our community.
The awards have been launched to recognise and thank individuals who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care to our patients, keep our services running and work hard to improve our services as a whole.
Nominations are open for NHS Orkney staff in the following categories: Clinical Team of the Year, Non-Clinical Team of the Year, Outstanding Care Award, Leader of the Year, Learner of the Year, Special Recognition, Innovation Award and the Values Award.
The final category is the People’s Choice Award — in partnership with The Orcadian, this category is for public voting, and open to everyone in our local community. See the full criteria on our website.
To place your nomination in this category, visit: www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/team-orkney-awards, or snip out the form in today’s edition of The Orcadian, and either post it to The Balfour, or pop it in the box at reception in The Orcadian office or alternatively in the box in The Orcadian Bookshop by 11.59pm February 4. The public can also submit their nominations via email — ork.teamorkney@nhs.scot.
NHS Orkney staff will have the chance to vote via a different link for the other categories. All nominations should be submitted by the same date.
Once the nominations are in, finalists will be shortlisted by the week commencing 26 February, before being selected by a panel of judges ahead of the awards ceremony, which will be held at The Albert Hotel on 22 March.
During the evening, the hosts of the awards, Chief Executive Laura Skaife-Knight, Health Board Chair Meghan McEwen and Editor of The Orcadian Leah Seator will be announcing the winners and presenting the awards, while guests enjoy dinner.
We are also delighted to announce that the Outstanding Care Award will be sponsored by Unison.
The awards are possible thanks to support from our sponsors and the Orkney Health Board Endowment Funds - a registered Scottish charity.
Laura Skaife-Knight, NHS Orkney Chief Executive, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that we are working in partnership with The Orcadian to celebrate the very best of Team Orkney.
“We’ve listened carefully to feedback about what it’s like working here, and the areas staff would like us to focus on. In response, we’ve strengthened our programme of work for how we value, recognise and celebrate the great work our staff do day in and day out.
“The Team Orkney staff awards are a key part of this programme, and an opportunity to highlight and thank those who consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care to our patients, keep our behind-the-scenes services running smoothly and work so hard to continue to innovate and improve our services.
“I am also pleased that we are involving our wonderful community in this process with the People’s Choice Award, to recognise those who have had a lasting impact on our local community, and made a positive difference to the lives of others.”
Meghan McEwen, NHS Orkney Chair, said: “As a board, I am absolutely delighted to be celebrating and recognising the incredible work of our staff. I have heard how much staff value being recognised and thanked for their incredible work. Our community has told me many times that our staff are our most powerful asset. These awards are a great way for us to celebrate them. I am excited about the People’s Choice Award and really look forward to receiving nominations and hearing stories about how Team Orkney has made a difference.”
Editor of The Orcadian, Leah Seator said: "Some of the biggest heroes in our community work for the health service, making a genuine difference in the community to local patients, and those receiving healthcare right across the county. The inception of this wonderful initiative to celebrate and commend local NHS staff for their efforts is very welcome, and The Orcadian is delighted to sponsor the awards.
"In the coming weeks, you will be able to follow progress on the Team Orkney awards in the newspaper — we hope this will shine a spotlight on the fantastic work carried out by teams, individuals and those at the helm, who sometimes go above and beyond for the sake of the people they care for."
Further details, including the full category criteria and the electronic public voting form, are available on our website – https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/team-orkney-awards
