David Davies says he is already a winner – for being nominated for a prestigious prize by someone he’s helped to lead a more fulfilling life.
“That means everything to me,” says David, 49, “being recommended by one of the service users.”
David has been nominated in the Excellence in Mental Health category, sponsored by Mental Health Care, in the Wales Care Awards to be announced in a glittering ceremony at Cardiff City Hall on October 21.
The awards are in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most.
David works as the service manager of the Recovery Service, a joint venture by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Wrexham Council. The Recovery Service was set up 10 years ago and helps people with serious mental illness to live more independent lives in their own homes or shared accommodation.
The service users suffer from various mental health problems including schizophrenia, depression and anxiety, and are of both sexes and from the age of 18 upwards.
The Recovery Service is able to support service users in a number of ways, including physical activity such as going to the gym, swimming, walking, cycling and practical activities such as going to the shops and balancing the budget.
“We aim to empower service users not to become dependent upon services but to lead as independent a life as possible,” explains David. Seventy of the service users are in their own homes and 18 in supported accommodation in the Wrexham area.
Whereas previously service users may have been in psychiatric hospitals they are now provided with an environment where they can realise their potential.
David started his career training as a nurse at the former North Wales Hospital at Denbigh, which closed in 1995. Then the married, father of two grown up children moved to Wrexham, where he runs his present unit, based at Coed Celyn.
David, whose outside interests include golf and supporting Chelsea football club, confesses : “I’m surprised but so delighted my nomination has come from a service user, rather than anyone else.”
The service user who nominated David, a married man, said that he and others had worked together to put forward David’s name.
He added : “As a senior manager David is approachable to all service users and carers. He empowers us all to take control of our recovery and in doing so ensures that the service is tailor-made to suit each individual person and not towards a collective.
“As service users we feel that it is important for David to have recognition of the work he has done and is continuing to do within the Recovery Service because he is improving our lives on a daily basis and we can’t thank him enough.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Honorary Chief Executive of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”
