THE University of Worcester is the headline sponsor of the inaugural Worcestershire Health and Social Care Awards.

The global pandemic has highlighted the great importance of our entire health and social care workforce and never has it been more important to recognise their outstanding work.

The University of Worcester is one of the country’s leading educators of healthcare professionals, from nurses and midwives, paramedics and physiotherapists through to occupational therapists and social workers and, throughout the pandemic, the university has continued to educate those critical workers.

Professor David Green, vice chancellor and chief executive, said: “This most devastating pandemic has really shone a light our most outstanding health workforce who deserve our sincerest thanks for the outstanding commitment and compassion they have shown throughout this time.”

More than 500 University of Worcester students put themselves forward to work on the frontline over the past 12 months, bolstering the nation’s workforce.

"Our students and graduates make an outstanding contribution to the health care settings in this region, and that has been seen so evident in this pandemic,” Professor Green added.

“We are incredibly proud of their bravery and commitment.”

The University of Worcester is currently ranked in the top three for quality education in The Times’ Higher Education University Impact Rankings and is the most shortlisted university for nurse education provider of the year (pre-registration) in the annual Student Nursing Times Awards.

The university was shortlisted for the second year running as university of the year in both the Times Higher Education Awards, and the UK Social Mobility Awards last year and in the most recent National Student Survey was ranked number one in the UK for midwifery out of the 75 universities who educate midwives.

This year marks 25 years of nurse and midwifery education at the University of Worcester. With a reputation for the highest quality provision, partnership working and delivery, the university also plays a leading role in researching and developing innovative and creative solutions in health and wellbeing, such as establishing the UK’s first master’s in Physician Associates, to help meet the changing needs of the health service.

Currently the university is well advanced in working towards the creation of the Three Counties Medical School, which will see it expand its expertise in health care education and provide much needed training for doctors across these communities.  

The university works in close collaboration with employers, including the NHS, West Midlands Ambulance Service, county councils and a range of voluntary and private sector employers and Worcester graduates are among the most employable in the country.

Students at Worcester benefit from well-qualified, creative, enthusiastic, supportive staff and have access to some exceptional learning facilities. The university has invested in excellent skills and simulation facilities to support learning, including a psychology laboratory, skills rooms and a specially adapted house for the training of health professionals working in the community.

To find out more about healthcare courses at the University of Worcester visit worcester.ac.uk.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust has also backed the Worcestershire Health and Social Care Awards 2021 by becoming a partner, and we are calling out to other organisations to sponsor the awards to show their appreciation for the county’s health and care workers.

Other sponsors of our awards include the University of Worcester, Sanctuary Care, Worcestershire County Council and Knights Pharmacy.

There are 12 categories in our Health and Social Care 2021 Awards. They are:

• Care Hero

• Care Home Worker

• Care Trainer

• Healthcare Employer

• Domiciliary Care Worker

• Good Nurse

• Adolescent and Child Health Care

• Dementia Carer

• Palliative/ End of Life Care

• Mental Health

• GP Practice of the Year

• Healthcare Team

Voting closes on April 2 and our panel of judges will choose the finalists, who will be featured in our titles.

Winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on May 27.

Michael Purton, the editor of the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette and Evesham Journal, said: “The people who work in the health and social care industry have always been an inspiration, not just during the pandemic. I would urge all of our readers to nominate an individual or team, to show them how much you appreciate everything they do.”

To nominate someone or a team for the awards, fill out a nomination form here.