Training Award Scooped By Bristol Care Charity

A charity providing accommodation, care and support for older and disabled people in Bristol has won a coveted industry training award.

The St Monica Trust has again been recognised for its excellence as a training body for the health and social care sector at Laing & Buisson’s 2008 Independent Healthcare Awards.

The Trust runs more than 70 different training courses, open to their 500 staff in Bristol as well as external candidates across the social care sector, supporting the training needs of similar organisations across the south-west of England.

The Trust’s learning and skills manager, Jacqui Ramus, received this year’s Independent Health Care Excellence in Training Award, impressing the judges with the organisation’s innovative approach to staff development, providing a breadth and depth of skills which both raise standards and improve employee motivation.

Last year, the St Monica Trust invested more than £500,000 in staff training. Trust director, Gerald Lee, said: ‘I am really pleased at the ongoing recognition for our excellent Learning and Skills team. This is further confirmation of their really great work, which is directly enhancing the quality of care for the elderly, both here at St Monica Trust and beyond.’

Sally Taber, Director of Independent Healthcare Advisory Services and one of the judge’s of the award said that St Monica’s Trust and Jacqui’s work in particular dispelled all the myths that the independent health sector does not train.

Ms Ramus was presented with her award by comedienne Jo Brand at a gala celebration in London.