President’s Award 2012: A Change for the Better

Tuesday, 20 September 2011 16:58  |  Liz Jones

I am delighted to announce that nominations are now open for the AHCP President’s Award 2012. The theme of the 2012 President’s Award will be education and development.

The President's Award lays down a challenge to all AHCP members to take action in a different key area each year. The judges are looking for the most innovative, exciting and effective initiatives,with the greatest potential to make a change for the better for all AHCP members.

Education and development is a vital field and entries can relate to any aspect of the topic. This means that the scope for individual members, groups and departments to take action and implement projects is very large so I am very much looking forward to seeing the entries next year.

When evaluating the entries the judges will of course be considering the impact made in the department or hospital where the entry originates. But in addition to this we will also be looking at the potential the initiative has for being used in other locations, so bear this in mind when you are thinking about, planning and implementing your entry.

The initiative concerned must be recent (i.e. should have taken place within the last two years). Projects that started earlier than this are eligible, provided activities are still in place and benefits are on-going.

The two main aims of the President's Award 2012 are:

• to promote continuous development of healthcare cleaning professionals
• to showcase the range of education and development activities focusing on cleaning staff

In addition, the award is intended to develop presentation skills in AHCP members and to promote engagement among AHCP branches, as well as raising the profile of the AHCP within the NHS and beyond.

All staff delivering cleaning services, or involved in education and development in the NHS or social care are eligible to enter. Applicants may be individuals or teams of up to three people.

The winner will receive the opportunity to attend an “About Health” Board Meeting, as well as £250 in vouchers per team member (maximum of three). Both national finalists will be entitled to three fully-funded places at Conference 2012 (excluding travel), as well as a full-day workshop to develop presentation skills, an opportunity to present at the Conference, and a full-page article in the event supplement.

If you are interested in submitting an entry please contact your branch secretary as soon as possible to discuss your ideas and get more information.