Community support worker Thomas Gregory-Smith from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust pocketed silver in the Our Health Heroes Awards 2021. He was a finalist in the Clinical Support Worker of the Year category. Being shortlisted already meant that Tom was in the running for medals and the final position was decided by a public vote.

Tom said:

“I am delighted to receive this Silver Award. It was a huge honour to be shortlisted in the Clinical Support Worker of the Year category, which I understand had received the largest number of entries. This additional recognition from the judges and the public vote is a lovely endorsement of my work.

“In addition, I truly believe that this award is a reflection of the amazing support and encouragement of my colleagues in the City Older Adult Community Mental Health Team as we provide mental health services to our locality.”

Tom was nominated by team manager Daniel Mercier who said:

“I nominated Tom after being inspired by his excellent, creative and tireless work in the City Older Adult Community Mental Health Team. Tom always makes himself available to support colleagues – everything from covering reception when the team is short-staffed to co-facilitating complex clinical interventions.

“It has been a joy to see our service users benefiting from Tom’s psycho-spiritual work, and service users and colleagues alike have benefited from Tom’s musical abilities.

“It’s rare to see someone contribute to a team in such wonderfully varied ways. Tom is truly one of a kind and I’m delighted that he has been recognised in national awards. Well deserved!”

Our Health Heroes are national awards, organised by Skills for Health, a not-for-profit organisation committed to the development of an improved and sustainable healthcare workforce across the UK, together with partners NHS Employers, UNISON and Bevan Brittan. The awards recognise the extraordinary people at the heart of the NHS and social care workforce.

Winners were announced at a virtual ceremony on March 23, 2021. You can view a recording of  the ceremony on here.