5 October 2011
A special awards ceremony to recognise 96 members of Trust staff who have achieved a vocational award this year has taken place.
A wide range of staff from Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals, including healthcare assistants, operating theatre assistants and members of the property maintenance team, all gathered at the special evening last Wednesday (28 September 2011), where they were presented with their certificates by Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins.
Matthew said: "I would like to pay tribute to the 96 members of staff who, despite juggling their day jobs and commitments at home, have all managed to pick up a vocational qualification in the last year.
"Presenting the certificates to such a large number of staff was a great honour for me, as it just goes to show how much our staff want to develop and strengthen their skills. We're committed to investing in our staff, and what better way to celebrate their achievement than a fantastic awards ceremony."
Victoria Stancliffe, a lab assistant in histopathology (where diseases are studied), picked up a NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) level three in pathology health support. She said: "I feel very proud to have achieved level three. The assessments were all work-based, so it was about showing that you can follow the correct procedures and policies to a high standard. It's a nice boost to your confidence."
Also at the ceremony was healthcare assistant Dawn Turpin, who picked up a level three NVQ in health and social care. She said: "It was a complex course, but it was definitely worth doing. I really enjoy my job, so learning extra skills that will help me at work feels like a really positive thing to do. All of my colleagues were really helpful and encouraging too."
But it wasn't just NVQs that were awarded that night, as more staff achieved other vocational qualifications in AMSPAR (the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers and Administration Receptionists), plumbing, electrical installation, business administration, customer service, and deaf and blind awareness.
