Balaji Ranjendran and Dr Katy Smith

Balaji Ranjendran received his highly commended certificate from Dr Katy Smith. She said:

“It’s a great pleasure to present this certificate to Balaji, in recognition of all the hard work he has put into the Clinical Research Facility resuscitation guidelines, our pharmacy audit and our lumbar puncture procedures specifically, but also for being a fantastic and essential member of the team. Congratulations on your achievement, it is very well deserved.”

Balaji had been nominated by senior research nurse Amanda Colston, who wrote:

“Balaji first encountered research as a young person in India when he was employed as a research assistant. He enjoyed the role and decided he would like to be a research nurse. Having gained his degree in nursing he came to the UK in 2020 to work in ICU during the pandemic – possibly the most challenging time and place to be a nurse. Balaji joined the Clinical Research Facility in October 2021 and has spent the last nine months learning and working on a huge variety of mental health experimental medicine research studies.

“He is always keen to help, always has an eye for safety, is wonderful with our participants and has been quietly invaluable to senior management as the CRF increased its occupancy from 50% to nearly 80% in recovery from the pandemic. As his line manager I think Balaji is an exceptional person and would like the Trust to recognise his contributions to research and the Trust’s reputation.”

Role model for the whole team

From left: Sheila Mudarikiri (Matron), Stella Godin-Malife (Ward Manager), Alison Murray (Physical Health Lead), Aderonke Olaewe (Award Winner), Julie Fulea (Head of Nursing Bucks), and Claire Forest (Nurse Consultant Older Adult Services.)

Deputy ward manager Ade Olaewe received her certificate in a small ceremony from Head of Nursing Bucks Julie Fulea and Older Adult nurse consultant Claire Forrest. Ade said:

“I am grateful to receive the exceptional award in recognition of my effort in delivering outstanding care and making significant difference to patient experience. The award reminds me that great leaders don’t set out to be leaders; they set out to make a difference. It is never about the role, but about the goal.”

The ward manager Stella Godin-Malife subscribed to Ade’s quote, adding:

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that the impacts last in your absence.”

Ade was nominated by physical health lead Alison Murray who wrote:

“Ade is an exceptionally caring nurse and absolutely puts in 100% effort into supporting the whole multidisciplinary team to ensure that patients and relatives are kept informed and are involved in decision making and work towards the appropriate person-centred goals.

“She is an excellent role model for the whole team. She is calm and quietly “gets on” and does whatever is needed to keep her patents safe and feeling supported on Amber ward. She is receptive and supportive to developing those around her, including students of all fields and more junior staff.

“Ade is the go-to person if you want support with anything. She is always receptive to new ways of working, upskilling herself and her team. She embraces change and challenges and is a person who quietly but confidently makes things happen. Patient feedback and the way I observe complex patients respond to Ade identify her as someone who patients really respond well to and trust.”

Nominate now!

Nominate a top team or someone exceptional now! Nominations are accepted at any time from patients, carers, family & friends, and colleagues. Each month our judges choose a winner and two highly commended from teams and individuals.  Fill in a nomination form online here.