Celebrating Excellence: Our Great British Care Awards 2025 Finalists

These colleagues are making waves and setting new standards; from bold ideas to inspiring achievements, they’re ones to watch. Take a read through their nominations and meet some colleagues who are shaping the future!

Keinan Cooper – The Care Innovator Award

A trusted assessor programme, co-produced with Somerset Council and My Life My Futures, sought to build on the strengths we have as individual organisations by working better together in the design and delivery of high-quality, person-centred Adult Social Care services that promote independence and wellbeing. To contribute to tackling pressures on social work we set an approach, under the direction and guidance of the Authority’s social work team, to create a Trusted Assessor (TA) role.

Having commenced his career as a support worker, before moving to become an assistant locality manager, Keinan has readily embraced countless opportunities for personal growth and development, establishing himself as a credible frontline leader and CQC Registered Manager before he reached his mid-20s. Keinan moved into the position of Trusted Assessor as an initial secondment opportunity and has worked in partnership with key stakeholders to shape the role into the highly regarded and commended position it is today, nearly 2 years after the concept became a reality.

The purpose of the Trusted Assessor role is to support a person-centred review and planning process in conjunction with the Local Authority Social Work team, ensuring that the needs, wants, requirements, hopes, dreams and ambitions of the people we support are captured and progression plans developed with them and their circles of support – where individuals have been assessed as not requiring a full care act review.

This means providing the right support in the right place at the right time.  The TA programme is going from strength to strength, and supporting the Authority to make a real impact on social work review pressures.

The positive impact of the TA role has been appreciated by the people we support. For example, following a trusted assessor review, a person we support fed back that he felt listened to, had some good goals to achieve, felt happier and talked about everything he wanted to talk about. 

A Lead Social Worker told us,

“Keinan has exhibited professionalism and commitment to enable people that we are supporting to achieve their desired goals. Keinan has a very friendly and pleasant personality and is a joy to work with.”

Another external professional noted:

“I’ve been really impressed whilst working with Keinan with a number of things (including) his ability to take on a lot of responsibility over a short period of time, he has set stretching but achievable goals for the people supported that will enable them to live their best lives possible whilst promoting their independence.”

 Another mentioned:

“This was a complex piece of work to set up, and what I have really appreciated is Keinan’s willingness and ability to step into an ever-growing role. If I compare the first meetings we had to now, Keinan has been a big part in improving the process, and he is now seen by the group as the main person leading these sessions. I have appreciated Keinan’s adaptability and ambition to get this process to run as smoothly as possible. Working side-by-side with colleagues from numerous organisations, Keinan has been recognised as a dependable partner, with his calm & friendly demeanour and ability to diplomatically set out his thoughts whilst being open to change.”

One partner referenced:

“I know many people (myself included) trust Keinan to always be putting the needs and wants of the people we are supporting first. This has resulted in setting some ambitious but very personal goals for people that will improve their quality of life and level of ongoing support that they require. He is always very conscious of who needs to be involved, how the person we’re supporting best likes to be communicated with, and what drives/motivates them. He is respectful of their wishes whilst asking the right questions, even if these may not be easy ones.”

We are very proud of Keinan and it is without question that the project is going from strength to strength due to his commitment and professionalism to achieve the best outcomes for the people we support. 

Jodie Williams – The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care

In the words of a team member:

“Jodie is the best Operations Director anyone could ever ask for. She is an incredibly kind yet motivating team leader who demonstrates all the very best qualities of our organisation. A true people person, she cares deeply about the people we support and our team of colleagues, treats everyone with respect and approaches every situation with honesty and integrity. She has been courageous through some difficult times with developing into a brand new area, where she has shown her ambition for expansion and for helping more people and continuously making lives better for the people we support.”

A qualified nurse by background and in addition to her primary responsibilities as Operations Director for the area of Yeovil and South Somerset, Jodie takes an active lead in the development and mobilisation of new services. Jodie is described by Discovery’s Business Development Manager as “a colleague who cares deeply about the people we support and is never afraid to challenge when she feels we are not achieving the very best outcomes we can for individuals. Part of the reason she is so keen to grow the business is so we can support more people and make a real difference to more people’s lives.”

She is also described as an exceptional people manager, striking the right balance between empowering and trusting managers to work on their own initiative and providing them with support, guidance and empathy so they can do their jobs to the highest standard.

A manager transferring to the organisation from another care provider states:

“Jodie has been an incredible leader and constant source of support for many managers and me. She has taken on lots of additional work and travel with the development and overseeing of Cornwall (a new development area for the organisation this year) and helped lots of us with her strength and consistency through a difficult transition period. Jodie genuinely cares about the people we support, and this is striking throughout her interactions with them and their families. She is really a very inspiring person and I would love to see her recognised for that.”

Jodie has led the closure of three poorly performing Registered Care Homes, identified by the Care Quality Commission and Local Authority Commissioners at transfer to our Organisation as ‘homes of significant concern’. Without hesitation, and without considering the personal time and investment she would need to make, Jodie set a course and rallied her team to ensure that every person affected by the subsequent home closures was supported to transition to new homes, where their lives have significantly improved as a result.

Another member of her team reflects,

“The last few weeks have been really difficult and challenging for me. I have felt very out of my depth at times, dealing with the various hospital departments and the ‘fight’ I have had to have to get the additional resources in place post-discharge for a person we support, for him to have the best chance of a safe and successful discharge. The feedback I wanted to share is around Jodie’s support. Jodie will say I had everything under control, and she didn’t do much, but I really appreciate how supported she made me feel through this process. Aside from being a beacon of wisdom and knowledge that I can tap into at any time, I really appreciate her ‘just’ checking in with me regularly, asking how I am, providing me with the reassurance that I am doing the right thing, making herself available to contact her at any time if there is anything she can do to help and being there for me to chat and off-load to. These may be small gestures (in her words), but they are consistent and genuine from Jodie, and I just have really appreciated her support over the last few weeks and wouldn’t have had the same results without her support.”

I have had the absolute privilege of working with Jodie for almost four years as her line manager, and I can safely say that Jodie is possibly one of the most dedicated, compassionate and courageous social care professionals I have worked with in my nearly 40 years working in Housing, Care and Support services. I feel incredibly proud of her achievements and blessed to have her in my team.

Supported Employment Team – The three R’s Award

At Discovery, we believe that employment is not just a job—it’s a pathway to independence, confidence, and a fulfilling life. Our supported employment services across Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES), and Dorset are designed to help people who are autistic, individuals with learning disabilities and those who identify as neurodiverse to secure and maintain meaningful, paid employment.

We are committed to raising the ambitions of the people we support and helping them achieve their employment aspirations. By offering a variety of employment opportunities, we ensure that each individual’s unique needs and goals are met. Our person-centred approach focuses on understanding the strengths and aspirations of each person, enabling us to match them with suitable roles and provide the necessary support to thrive in the workplace.

Our team comprises both neurotypical and neurodiverse individuals, a blend that we believe enhances our service and offers the best support for people seeking employment. This diversity brings a wealth of perspectives and problem-solving approaches, enriching our ability to cater to the varied needs of those we support.

Neurodiverse team members often excel in areas such as attention to detail, pattern recognition, and innovative thinking. These strengths complement the skills of neurotypical colleagues, fostering a collaborative environment where creativity and efficiency thrive.

We have 30% of our team identifying as autistic, neurodivergent or have a learning disability. By embracing this diversity at all levels, from Management to Administration, we not only enhance our service delivery but also model the inclusive workplaces we aim to create for the individuals we support.

Alexander’s Journey: From Supported Internship to Operations Assistant

Alex is an inspiring example of how supported employment can transform lives. Diagnosed with autism, Alex faced challenges in finding meaningful employment, but with the support of Discovery, he was able to achieve his career goals.

Before securing his current role as an Operations Assistant, Alex completed a Supported Internship with Avon and Somerset Police through Discovery, which helped him gain invaluable work experience and develop key skills that he could apply in the workplace. He worked for the investigations team on a fixed-term contract and completed 6 months.

Now, as part of the Discovery team, Alex not only enjoys his work but also helps others like him navigate the path to employment. His personal journey is a testament to the power of supported employment in creating opportunities and fostering long-term success.

Alex says,

“What I love about this job is that I’m happy to be working in a computer administration role, to manage and update data from spreadsheets and websites”.

Alex’s story showcases the incredible potential within the neurodiverse community and highlights the importance of tailored support to help individuals thrive in the workplace.

Nicola Chlopecki – The Dignity in Care Award

Nicola embodies curiosity and is always asking the ‘why’ behind everything! Just one example, which captures the essence of Nicola… Nicola could see that there was potential for a lady she supports (known as Heather) to be living a better life. Nicola set about working with Heather and her family to establish her dreams & ambitions. Heather does not communicate with words, but Nicola was creative in finding ways to ensure she was always at the centre of these conversations. Nicola has taken positive risks throughout her work and has ensured that every setback is turned into a learning opportunity, also engaging the wider community and resources to find creative solutions and implement adjustments to increase the chance of things going well.

Heather’s life has been completely transformed due to Nicola’s support, and she now has a communication system in place, which ensures that she has maximum choice and control over her life. Not only has Heather achieved greater independence and developed new skills allowing her to do more things for herself, such as shopping for food and clothes, but she has forged better connections with her family and started to develop friendships. For the first time this year, Heather had people to send Christmas cards to (and received many in return!), but more than this, she has achieved a real sense of belonging within her local community.

In all of this, Heather’s physical and mental well-being has dramatically improved. She has lost weight and reversed symptoms of pre-diabetes and a fatty liver. Her mental health has improved so much that behaviours of distress are now non-existent, which has supported her in reducing significant levels of medication. With Nicola’s support, Heather has not only been able to achieve her dreams but is beginning to create new ones.

Nicola recently attended the organisation’s Safeguarding Summit to share Heather’s story with over 100 colleagues and external professionals. Following Nicola’s presentation, the CEO made reference to her evident passion, determination, and ambition. Further mentioning that in applying positive risk-taking, Nicola had clearly supported Heather to lead a more fulfilling life. I don’t believe there was a person in the room who wasn’t moved by both what she said and how she said it. Speaking to a large audience, when it’s not something that you often do, certainly requires courage.

Nicola has not only displayed courage and ambition in abundance, but she is described by her peers and Managers as ‘absolutely incredible’ in the support she has not only provided to Heather, but to them, with one referencing,

“I am so proud to work alongside her, she certainly inspires me!”

Nicola is a confident colleague who has never been afraid to speak up for those she supports. In doing so, she demonstrates passion and advocacy for the people she supports and that passion is so palpable that this has not only positively impacted the culture of the home she works in, but with notable joy, continues to infect the culture of the wider Organisation. Being such an influencer has never come naturally, nor does it sit comfortably with Nicola and yet, despite this, her commitment to ‘more’ for the people we support remains her driving force.

Nicola described ‘shaking inside’ when she presented Heather’s story at the summit, but from hearing her present and spending time with her after, you would never believe that she was feeling this way.

“I was reminded recently that you don’t need to have a title to lead, you just need to notice someone who’s usually invisible… Make their day by helping them feel seen, heard and valued. That’s where culture begins. Thank you Nicola, for not only helping Heather to be seen, heard and valued, but for positively infecting the culture of dignity, respect and inclusion within our Organisation.”

Karen Mercer – The Workforce Development Award

Karen’s Manager, Sharon believes that,

“Karen demonstrates all of the values Discovery holds in abundance. When Karen is supporting a person, she has complete focus on them and listens intently to everything they say and do to express themselves, this alongside her drive, passion and creativity means that she has done so much to improve the lives of those people, in terms of supporting them to find groups that they will enjoy, where people can build new friendships or just those ad hoc things, on a very rainy day having the idea for someone to pop next door to an older peoples residential home to meet her neighbours and join them in listening to old songs, something the person really enjoyed.”

“Karen has become part of the Communication Partner Team at Cedar Park Court and developed an amazing presentation for the team. She made it so specific to the people we support.  Karen is fabulous in this role and is striding forward with new ideas.  She is currently developing a social story with a person, and just last week came up with the idea of ‘I can’ videos, giving people the opportunity to explain and reflect on their gifts to share with the team.  I constantly find myself excited about the next idea she will have.”

“Karen works 12 hours a week, and the improvements she has supported people to make to their lives during these hours are huge. We are so lucky to have her in the team.”

A colleague also mentions,

“The care and support I see Karen giving is a level of support I wish for the whole team (including myself) at Cedar Park. Karen goes above and beyond, and when supporting someone, she totally immerses herself into their world, and nothing distracts her during that time, as nothing is more important. Karen regularly supports one particular person we support and has helped her to expand her circle of friends, which has been life-changing.”

Another of Karen’s peers support:

“I would like to add to Karen’s nomination about the excellent knowledge, creativity, and commitment she generously contributed when we worked together to create an autism training for her colleagues. Karen was clearly enthused and took every opportunity to develop her own knowledge too. Karen is comfortable disclosing her neurodivergence, and her openness and honesty throughout the training were incredibly helpful for her colleagues, so that they may understand autism from an inside-out approach. Following the training, I was further impressed when Karen asked for support around creating a visual learning aid for a lady she supports. Karen’s proactiveness in making this happen is so impressive, as was her enthusiasm about the guidance offered, which resulted in Karen making a creative and truly person-centred high-quality aid.”

The Dimensions Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) said:

“Karen truly demonstrated all of Dimensions’ values in the work she was involved in with raising awareness to colleagues on Autism. She was so courageous and brave to share her vulnerability to ensure a positive outcome for her colleagues. She demonstrated ambition, respect, and integrity when working in partnership with the EDI team.”

Karen is passionately committed to developing support for neurodivergent colleagues in Discovery, and has brought such a valuable, compassionate and creative approach to the focus group working, which is not only inspiring and motivational for colleagues but is also leading to life changing opportunities for the people we support who are so greatly benefitting from the culture of continuous learning and development that Karen has created.

Coach House Team – The Home Care Team Award

In a recent Better Practice Group meeting, Stacey shared a good news story about a lady she supports. The story focused on how this lady had been supported to enhance her life dramatically through the reduction of STOMP medication and a person-centred approach.

Stacey’s story touched on many of our values. It highlighted great partnership working between the person we support and health professionals, shaping the right medication support. It showed great respect for the lady we supported, what she wanted to do and how she wanted to spend her life. It showed great ambition for wanting the best for the lady we support and great courage to try new things and take positive risks. When barriers had arisen, such as difficulties with getting the local authority to engage regarding increased funding to support more independence, Stacey and her team were not deterred by this and worked on and found creative solutions to these barriers. The outcome was breath-taking to see as Stacey showed photos and told stories of how this person’s life is now. Having known this lady 10 years ago, so see her journey was truly inspiring, and I think Stacey and her team deserve real recognition for this wonderful achievement.