MENTAL health nurse Maggie Rose won a coveted bronze award at the social care Oscars.
Maggie, a clinical team leader with Swansea-based The Accomplish Group, was shortlisted in the Independent Sector Nurse of the Year category at the Wales Care Awards.
Organised by Care Forum Wales, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the presentations were staged at a glittering ceremony at Cardiff’s City Hall.
Maggie, who lives in the Mayals area of Swansea, said: “To be honest, I was very excited to be nominated in the first place.
“When I was told I was on the shortlist I thought people were having a laugh. It was an unbelievable moment.”
The Independent Sector Nurse category was sponsored by Ontex UK, which supplies disposable personal hygiene products, and the award was presented by Tina Donnelly CBE, director of the Royal College of Nursing Wales.
Married with grown up children, Maggie, 57, was put forward for the award by Accomplish marketing manager Gemma Howells.
She has worked for Accomplish since 2008 and is a specialist provider for people with autism, mental health needs, learning disabilities, and acquired brain injuries.
Her priority has been the fulfilment of the lives of the people it supports, providing flexible care in registered residential, hospital and supported living settings.
Maggie has more than 30 years’ experience as a mental health nurse and has worked in acute wards and out in the community.
Along the way, she has gained experience in neurological conditions such as epilepsy head injuries and increasingly complex health conditions.
“Maggie is the clinical team leader who oversees the clinical team providing support and clinical expertise to a very diverse group of people living in residential homes across Wales,” says Gemma.
“Her team consists of behaviour advisers, trainers and mental health nurses. Maggie also provides all clinical training sessions to all staff members at Accomplish.
“Maggie’s dedication to the people she supports and members of staff is outstanding, consistently delivering above and beyond what is expected of her and that is why I am nominating her.”
Gemma says Maggie’s professional attitude is an example to everyone she works with.
“Colleagues and the people she supports look up to Maggie and seek her approval, opinion and advice,” adds Gemma.
“She would never expect something from someone that she wouldn’t be willing to do herself.
“Maggie is enthusiastic and willing to try a fresh approach when one doesn’t work. She always strives to make the quality of a person’s life as good as it can for them.
“She never stops thinking about her role and the people she supports. Maggie is an inspirational role model to all.”
Fellow mental health nurse Eleanor Percey said: “Maggie is an outstanding nurse. She is supportive to all staff and continuously adopts new initiatives to improve standards and best practice for the people she supports.
“Her aim is to provide the best individual-based care for each person and ot make a positive impact on people’s pathway through new and innovative approaches.
“Maggie is a key advocate for the role that specialist nurses have in promoting the needs of people with disabilities.”
Mario Kreft, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists have received a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.
“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights in the months and years to come.
“This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales.
“We take our hats off to them.”
