A Sheffield social worker has won a regional award for the way she and her staff team support people with learning disabilities and autism.
Diane Round, who has worked for not-for-profit specialist support provider Dimensions for 25 years, has won the ‘Dignity in Care’ award for the Yorkshire region of the Great British Care Awards. She is the manager at two Sheffield services, one in Hillsborough and one in Highgreave.
Diane, who lives in Rotherham, scooped the award at the Yorkshire regional final at a ceremony in York. She will next year attend a national award ceremony in London – where she stands a chance of winning the national ‘Dignity in Care’ award.
“All of the people we support at Highgreave use non-verbal communication. The staff have worked really hard to establish what they want and how they would like to be supported,” said Diane.
“Each person we support has individualised rooms and we support them in exactly the way they choose, to do the activities they like. I love my job – I was so surprised to win, I am lucky that I have such a good team.”
Diane, who described the people she and her team support as amazing, first started working in the social care sector when she was 14, at a special school in Rotherham. She then trained to become a nursing assistant, moving to Dimensions 25 years ago as a support worker. She has been a manager for about four years.
People who are supported at the services that Diane manages are preparing to move into their own supported living properties. The work that Diane and her team have been doing to prepare for this move was part of the reason for the award.
A spokesman for the Great British Care Awards said: “Diane impressed us with her knowledge and understanding, able to translate meaning into practice now and for the future care and support that people need. Well done Diane.”
Acting Operations Director for Sheffield, Rick Mears, said: “I’d like to congratulate Diane on her excellent achievement. I am so pleased that Diane and her dedicated staff team have been recognised for the hard work they put into giving people we support the choice and control over their lives.
“The people supported by Diane and her team have a brilliant quality of life because they know how to individually support each one of them.”
