'Exceptional' mentor Tania wins prestigious Cavell Star Award
Healthcare assistant (HCA) and valued mentor Tania Spencer has been presented with the prestigious Cavell Star Award, in recognition of her compassionate patient care and "empathic" support for colleagues.
Tania was visibly moved as she accepted the coveted national prize from Executive Chief Nurse Garry Marsh in front of a group of her colleagues from the Derby Private Health (DPH) ward, where she has been making a telling impact since joining the Trust three years ago.
Tania was nominated by her colleague for being an exceptional mentor, supporting a new HCA who joined the ward and described her as "a breath of fresh air - she is kind and empathic" and somebody who "follows all the gold standards for each job being undertaken". The colleague added: "Tania will come and find me when she feels there might be a task I haven't done before to go through it with me step by step. Her commitment to growing and developing her colleagues, it is so comforting for new staff to feel this level of supported in their role, and to know that this is all to benefit good outcomes for our patients."
The Cavell Star Awards - organised by charity Cavell, which supports nursing and midwifery colleagues across the UK - celebrate nurses, midwives, nursing associates and healthcare assistants who exhibit exceptional care for patients, their families and colleagues, with Tania becoming the fourth Team UHDB member in as many years to receive the accolade.
Reflecting on the moment she saw her colleagues gathered round to celebrate her being presented with the medal, Tania said: "I'm overwhelmed, I didn't expect any of this - but it's just nice to be appreciated, and it's nice to know that I've made somebody happy, because that means a lot to me. When you are new to a team, you want a bit of guidance to help get settled in and being a mentor means the world to me.
"I am a big believer in treating people how you'd like to be treated yourself, so that's what I try to do, with patients and with colleagues."
Tania's in-built inclination to care for and guide people in life is evident in her work prior to joining UHDB. She previously worked in a care home and with elderly people in the community, as well as spending seven years working with young people in a similar capacity - while today, she also teaches people to drive when not caring for patients at Derby Private Health.
She added: "It's very frightening for some patients when they come to have any work done in the hospital, so giving them that comfort and them knowing that you are there to listen to them is important. Listening is huge, people want you to listen to them. Giving them that support, it means a lot to me to do that."
One of the colleagues in attendance for Tania's award presentation was Teresa Purdy, Senior Sister, who echoed the words in the nomination statement to highlight how Tania's attentiveness and attention to detail around every element of her role embody the UHDB values of compassion, excellence and openness.
Teresa said: "When Tania came on to the ward, it was her first time working in a hospital ward - and she has been absolutely amazing. The standard of care that she offers to patients is exceptional, and the feedback that we get from patients around Tania and how comfortable she has made them feel is absolutely outstanding.
"Right from the very start, Tania was very keen to mentor other people that were coming into the ward, first-year students and new HCAs that were coming in. So when one of our HCAs who nominated Tania for this award came on to the ward, Tania took her under her wing and really helped her settle in, showed her around and showed her how we did things to really make her feel part of the team. She is very good at doing that for all people that come to the ward, and we are very proud of her. It's a very special thing, and she should be very proud of herself. We are all proud of her in DPH, we're proud of the work she does."
Garry Marsh, Executive Chief Nurse, presented Tania with the eye-catching medal and lapel badge while commending her for her invaluable contribution. He said: "Tania's compassion for her patients and bond with her colleagues in the Derby Private Health team is outstanding, and just seeing the reactions of her colleagues as she received the award spoke volumes for how highly valued she is within the team.
"The passion Tania clearly possesses for helping those around her to deliver a top level of care to every patient that comes into her ward is testament to how we can continually strive to provide Exceptional Care Together, and I'm sure I speak for the whole UHDB community when I say a huge thank you for all of her hard work and dedication to the role, which is benefiting patients and colleagues alike."