Community Integrated Care celebrates double win at Care Awards

Community Integrated Care, one of the UK’s largest health and social care charities, is celebrating a double win at this year’s National Care Awards.

Executive Officer, Mark Adams, was awarded the ‘Care Leadership’ accolade for his role in steering the charity’s 5,000-strong workforce during the Covid-19 crisis, acting as a ‘standout voice’ for the sector.

He was specifically recognised by judges for his visibility in championing social care at a national level during the Covid-19 pandemic, with judges saying his decisive leadership enabled the charity’s workforce to shine.

Mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on the sector was another action he was acknowledged for – specifically by making the difficult decision early on to close the charity’s services to visitors earlier than the official lockdown in 2020 – being pivotal to the local and national sector response and therefore saving many lives.

Adams also played a vital role in the development of Unfair to Care, a report which highlighted pay inequalities across the health and social care sector, which is now becoming a hotly debated topic amongst the sector, with Adam’s campaigning for fair pay for social care workers.

Tracy Hamilton was another win for the charity. A support worker for people with complex needs in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, she was recognised as a ‘Care Champion’ following her own story of Covid-19.

Hamilton contracted Covid-19 and ended up being placed on a ventilator in hospital, where she realised, she was on the same ward as one of the people she supports, asking to be located next to them to continue to offer them support.

Tracy continued to offer this support as the person received end of life care, as sadly they did not survive the virus, often sitting with them for 12 hours a day. The Judges commended Tracy for her selflessness to the care community, even in her own time of need.

Mark Adams, CEO of Community Integrated Care said: ‘This has been a fantastic evening for our charity and we’re so proud to be taking home two awards.

‘The past eighteen months have been a truly difficult period for all, and to be recognised among so many other outstanding members of the social care community really is an honour.

‘I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate Tracy, who embodies all the qualities we’re so proud to champion at Community Integrated Care. The circumstances of this story are incredibly sad, but her dedication to helping others is truly inspirational. She is a star and this recognition is very well deserved.”