EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Denise Mohammed– a senior carer working in Adults and Health – is on a mission to help disadvantaged residents with dementia live life to the fullest. When she’s not giving tender personal care, she’s busy arranging – and fundraising for – everything from fish and chip evenings, to karaoke and movie nights and gives much of her personal time to look after residents. She treats all her residents with incredible kindness and dignity – and is one-in-a-million.
Lisa Hopkins– a housing officer working in Place – is a sponge for information: even though she’s already incredibly experienced and respected. She’s never one to blow her own trumpet but when this antisocial behaviour expert isn’t knocking on doors reassuring residents, or collecting evidence for them, she’s in court protecting them. And she never bats an eyelid before jumping in to help colleagues – even when she’s got 30 to 40 cases of her own.
Peter Barratt– a street scene co-ordinator in Place – energises and inspires everyone he comes across with his enthusiasm and optimism. His newly-formed team collects flytipped waste from Housing land – and has helped create an inner-city orchard, and thriving community garden with fruit and veg, and a clothes drying area – while saving the council £31,000 in his team’s first year.
Even though he never takes personal credit, his solutions are spreading across the city.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
The Domestic Abuse Service Team in Place is – quite literally – a lifeline.
One in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence or abuse – yet this devastating crime remains one of the most underreported. And, in the past year, this new team has handled 600 cases: preventing 49 families becoming homeless, and saving the council £322,000. A recent survivor thanked them for getting their life back: they had forgotten what it felt like to be happy.
The Public Health Apprentices Model recognises that growing numbers of Birmingham’s looked-after children, aged 18-plus, aren’t in education or employment. Significant health and social inequalities can impact their lives – and care leavers generally have to become independent at a much younger age than their peers. These tailored, two-year apprenticeships give the young person their own mentor throughout. And, very touchingly, one of the new apprentices said the best part of his job was receiving is council ID: he felt he belonged.
The Street Scene and Estate Teams East in Place works wonders keeping Housing land clear and clean. Housing brought this service in-house – using its own district caretakers and tipper trucks. Now, it’s more cost-effective, more under local control, quicker and more reactive. In the past year, they have visited and leafleted more than 6,000 homes, collected 592 tonnes of waste, created ten block champions, and signed 150 Good Neighbour Agreements – transforming lives as they go!