Lancashire Nurse is finalist in UK Social Enterprise 2012 Awards

Oct. 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Zandra French is a finalist in the Employee of the Year category, which recognises people that always go the extra mile.  Zandra was nominated by Spiral Health CIC management and is one of five people shortlisted for the award.

Zandra is a nursing sister who has worked for the NHS for over 14 years.  Since Spiral Health CIC became a social enterprise Zandra has put herself forward to work in a new role with no financial incentive.  This role has required a move away from the Unit that has been Zandra’s main work for many years and has placed her in new and challenging situations.

Since working in this new role Zandra has improved the outcomes for patients in many ways and also supported the acute trust by enabling acute hospital beds to be available more readily.

Spiral Health CIC is the first social enterprise in England to spin out from NHS secondary care, previously known as the Bispham Nurse Led Therapy Unit, providing services that promote recovery from illness, injury or surgery, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, support hospital discharge and maximise independent living.  Last year supporting 1,372 patients across Lancashire and Blackpool, 97% returned home.

Zandra French, Sister said:  “I can’t believe Tracey and Cheryl entered me into the competition.  I’m delighted and lost for words.  I am looking forward to the next steps in Spiral Health’s patient centred journey.”

Tracey Bush, Managing Director said, “we are so pleased Zandra is through to the final.  She has embraced the new way of working, the social enterprise ethos and has made a real difference to the patient pathway.”

The UK finals are taking place at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 12th November, and will be hosted by comedian and television presenter Sue Perkins of The Great British Bake Off.

There are 68,000 social enterprises in the UK, businesses that exist to help people in need such as those who are young and out of work, living with disabilities or on the streets.  Green social enterprises protect the planet by reducing carbon emissions and recycle seemingly waste materials that would otherwise go into landfill.  Household names include The Big Issue, Belu water and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant chain.

The Social Enterprise Awards are sponsored by CAN, PwC, BP, The British Council, The Nominet Trust and Real Partners CIC.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk.  

Ends

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact Tracey Bush, Managing Director of Spiral Health CIC, on 01253 303576 or the Social Enterprise UK press office on 020 3589 4951 / 4949.

Social Enterprise UK is the national body for social enterprise. Social enterprises are businesses that exist for a social or environmental purpose. When they profit, society profits. Together with our members we are the voice for social enterprise in the UK. Our members are local grass-roots organisations and multi-million pound businesses that operate internationally. What unites them is their commitment to changing the world through business.  For more information, visit www.socialenterprise.org.uk.