The Birmingham Cross City CCG Dementia Support Team topped the People Awards Pushing Boundaries category.
The category awards those that demonstrate an innovative and adaptable approach which is centred on results for the Society; taking an interest in motivating others and respectfully challenging the status quo.
In the last year the Birmingham Cross City CCG Dementia Support Team have brought about a unique shift in how GPs view dementia, championing the idea that more can be done for people with dementia in their own communities.
The team’s success has led to another year’s funding for the project from the Cross City Clinical Commissioning Group.
The team also advised and supported a neighbouring Clinical Commissioning Group that is aiming to adopt a similar approach in their GPs’ practices.
The Birmingham Cross City CCG Dementia Support Team are: Mary Keddy, Carol Bowsher, Amarjit Sagoo, Joanne Farrell, Shaheda Zaman, Esme Dawson and Mike Ayres.
Carol Bowsher, Dementia Support Worker, said: “The team were really delighted and proud to be shortlisted and it was fantastic to receive a Peoples Award. It is not that often that these sorts of things happen in life. The whole team has worked really hard in making connections with GP practices and building stronger community awareness. The work itself is rewarding in terms of reaching out to individuals who may otherwise fall through gaps. Though this is my third year with the Society I have only been providing direct dementia support for 10 months and have learnt an enormous lot from the wider team and my Line Manager, Mary, who is always there with a listening ear.”
Mary Keddy, the Birmingham Cross City CCG Dementia Support Team Line Manager said; “I am incredibly proud of my team for all that we have achieved over the last year and it is wonderful that our work has been recognised with this award. Our success so far in building connections with GP practices is a great motivation to continue to work hard and support other CCGs to do the same.”
Speaking about the event, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Jeremy Hughes said: “Every day Alzheimer’s Society volunteers and employees demonstrate our core values in their roles and interactions with each other and the people affected by dementia we support. This makes me particularly proud to work for this organisation. I’m humbled to celebrate the amazing work of our people and the selfless and relentless way in which they go about it.”
The awards preceded the charity’s annual Dementia Awareness Week (14 – 20 May) in which Alzheimer’s Society urged everyone to come together and unite against dementia.
Alzheimer’s Society events took place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.