Care manager Stuart Simmons wins Caring Council Worker of the Year award

Leeds City Council care manager Stuart Simmons has won the Caring Council Worker of the Year award at the Local Government Association awards.

The award sponsored by social care workforce development agency Skills for Care recognises Stuart’s exceptional work managing a team at Osmondthorpe Resource Centre in Leeds which supports disabled people including people recovering from serious head injuries.

Over the last 15 years Stuart has supported more than 400 people to reintegrate into the community through finding employment, re-training, volunteering and educational courses.

Stuart received his award at a glittering awards event in Harrogate from TV presenter Jeremy Vive and his nomination paid tribute to his life-transforming work going the ‘extra mile’ for people who use services and carers.

The judges voted for Stuart because he continually develops the work of the centre and his nominators says his passion, dedication and determination every day inspires people to realise their full potential.

“Skills for Care was delighted to sponsor the Caring Council Worker of the Year category as we recognise the outstanding work hundreds of thousands of council workers do in delivering high quality care to millions of people who use services and carers in their communities,” says Skills for Care CEO Andrea Rowe.

“There is no doubt Stuart Simmons was a worthy winner in a very tough category and his work at the Osmondthorpe Resource Centre has made a difference to hundreds of people facing bleak futures but thanks to the efforts of his outstanding team are now are back at the heart of their communities.

“All too often we only hear about things going wrong in local authorities so it was refreshing and inspirational to be at an event where high quality and effective care delivered by local council workers are acknowledged and rewarded.”