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Date:  11 December 2007

Jewish Care pays tribute to almost 200 people who have gained professional or vocational qualifications during the past year

Almost 200 Jewish Care staff were praised for ‘going the extra mile’ to gain qualifications at the charity’s Celebration of Success awards ceremony. The annual event was held at the Metropolitan Police Peel Centre in Aerodrome Road, Hendon on Monday 10 December, organised by Myra Whiskar, Jewish Care’s learning and development manager, and her team.

Awards were announced by HR director Diane Blausten then staff received their certificates from Jewish Care chairman Stephen Zimmerman. “Your achievements will enable our clients and the community to benefit from the ever-improving quality of our staff,” said Mr Zimmerman.

He continued: “We always try to listen and respond to the community’s health and social care needs, as they develop and change, and we are also aware that we must keep responding to the needs of staff, while keeping abreast of national care standards.”

Jewish Care chief executive Simon Morris added that he was very proud of the dedication and commitment shown by the charity’s staff – thanking them for the “hard work and extra hours sacrificed” to achieve their success.

He added: “Jewish Care has an excellent track record in developing and training its staff – continuing to meet, and surpass, national standards in care. It is no mean achievement that around 17% of our staff are acknowledged here tonight.”

Guest speaker was Royston Guest of training specialists Pti International. In a presentation highlighting how high performers motivated themselves he said he knew from personal experience how tough it could be to study while also juggling work and home commitments.

Qualifications achieved by staff included everything from National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in subjects such as mental health care to City & Guilds in communications skills and numerous social work qualifications.

Those honoured included staff from the charity’s care homes in Hendon, Finchley, Friern Barnet, Hackney, Redbridge, Southend and Brighton, as well as staff from special day care centres, mental health services, social work and home care teams and the carers’ service. Qualifications included Registered Managers’ awards, Learning and Development awards for assessors, Dementia Care Mapping, The Institute of Leadership and Management awards, Communications Skills awards and Social Work Practice Teaching.

Five employees also scooped long-service awards – for a combined 100 years service to Jewish Care. They were Ofelia Vasquez of Lady Sarah Cohen House, Marto Holgado of Leo Baeck House, Sara Banjoko and Zenaida Bibal from Osmond House and Lyn Yeatts from Raymond House (each registering 20 years service).

Judith Hassan of Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre was recognised for receiving a Lifetime Achievement in Care award at the 2007 National Care Awards.