Two of our teams and seven members of staff have been nominated for the regional Paediatric Awards for Training Achievements (PAFTAs).
The PAFTAs are an awards scheme run by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) recognising trainees and educational supervisors who go above and beyond for their colleagues and patients.
As part of this scheme, each region gives out awards to celebrate the incredible work and commitment of staff working with children and young people in their area.
Three of our Consultant Community Paediatricians – Caroline Bodey, Clare Phillpotts and Tamsin Woodbridge – have been nominated for Educational Supervisor of the Year at the PAFTAs in the Severn region.
Dr Clare Phillpotts was nominated by one of the trainees she supported who said: “She is an incredible leader in Community Paediatrics and has, together with her colleagues, created a really special team who value working together, supporting each other and providing an excellent clinical service and learning experience for trainees.”
Tamsin Woodbridge has been commended for being an ‘outstanding educational supervisor and an excellent role model’. One trainee said: “She helps to foster an environment where every team member’s contribution is valued. Tamsin takes a genuine interest in trainees’ goals and actively advocates for them.”
Caroline Bodey has been nominated for ‘supporting trainees, encouraging discussion around cases, promoting resilience and developing the confidence of trainees’.
Our Community Paediatrics Service, which supports children with long-term health conditions, has been nominated for the Team of the Year Award. The nomination states: “This is a team who really value you as a person, they strive to change and make the service to patients better and allow trainees to be part of that process, developing higher level skills.”
Three members of staff have been nominated for unsung hero awards in different categories.
Clare Sheehan, Consultant Community Paediatrician, has been put forward for the medical Unsung Hero Award. Her nomination states: “Clare is the consultant you want your children to have. She has such a wealth of knowledge and considers the whole person.
“Clare is continuously looking for ways to influence, develop and support the service and trainees. She has a natural way of drawing out the best in each person – encouraging trainees and staff to develop and think about how the service can improve.”
East-central Bristol Administrator Becky Dean has been nominated for the non-clinical Unsung Hero of the Year Award. She has been commended for being welcoming to new trainees and ‘endlessly patient’. Her nomination states: “She goes out of her way to consider how to help patients and their families. She is such a valued team player and will always help her colleagues out.”
Senior physiotherapist Kate Cardinal has been recognised as an Unsung Hero in the Allied Health Professional/Nursing category for her ‘commitment to high quality patient centred care’ and for bringing the team together.
The Administration Team for the Community Paediatric Service in North Somerset has received a nomination for non-clinical Team of the Year. One trainee said: “They are the best admin team I have ever worked with. They were so welcoming, friendly and supportive. They are innovative in creating systems and processes that keep the service organised and safe and they work brilliantly with the clinical team in continually striving to improve.”
Senior Community Paediatric Resident Doctor Emily Helliwell has been nominated for Senior Trainee of the Year for ‘always being willing to support junior colleagues on shift, answering questions and supporting decision making’.
The award ceremony is due to take place in the spring. Lorraine McMullen, Divisional Director of Children’s Services, said: “I’m delighted so many of our staff have been recognised for the fantastic support they provide to children, young people and their families across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. I would like to say a huge thank you to all our trainees and the staff who support them.”
