County awards for North Devon workers with young people

dave.tanner@archant.co.uk
15 December 2009

A PRIMARY school teaching and mealtime assistant, an educational psychologist, an occupational therapist and a young people's drug and alcohol service, all from North Devon, received special awards from Devon County Council at a ceremony to honour staff who work with children and young people.

Elaine Trute from Georgeham Primary School, was named individual winner in the stakeholder category of the Cream of CYPS Awards ceremony at County Hall in Exeter. She was nominated for the award by head teacher Julian Thomas and other staff at the school.

Teacher Mandy Turner said: "Elaine is a star. She will gladly do anything that is asked of her and always with a smile on her face.

She is kind and caring, has a great sense of humour and definitely makes each day brighter, and not just because of her bright red lipstick! It's not the same when she's not around and the children love her!"

Head teacher Julian Thomas said: "Elaine offers an ear, a shoulder and sometimes a tissue, and she can equally offer a smile, a cheer and a celebratory laugh. Everyone at school has something positive to say about Elaine - they are glad that she is here and she certainly does enrich our lives."

Six of the school's pupils read out a poem, Our Glittering Star.

Elaine was presented with her Dartington glass trophy by Mary Nisbett, Chair of Devon Children's Trust Partnership.

Team winner in the category was the Y-Smart Team drug and alcohol service for under 18s, based in Barnstaple. It was nominated for its work with young people and schools and its established reputation as a team which is approachable, encouraging, supportive, understanding and knowledgeable.

Amy White, a senior clerk with the team, put them forward.

She said: "I am very proud to work for Y-Smart. At times it can prove tough for the workers and nurses in the team, who have plenty of difficult situations to cope with on a daily basis, but working together makes it all worthwhile."

Ken Fuller, a senior educational psychologist from Barnstaple, received the Tower of Strength award for his tireless support of the service.

Ken was nominated by Kate Corbin, who said:"He has worked for our service in this area for many, many years and continues to be passionate and endlessly enthusiastic about opportunities to make things better for some of our most vulnerable children. He is always at the end of the phone to support colleagues, both senior and junior to himself, and is a role model to us all."

He was presented with his award by Ingrid Fisher, Director for Policy and Strategy.

Sharon Clemence, Head of Occupational Therapy at the Barnstaple Child Development Centre, won the Achieving Excellence trophy.

Sharon has been head of occupational therapy for a number of years and manages a team of staff from both the NHS and county council.

She was nominated by colleague Miriam Fallon, who said: "I have worked as an occupational therapist for 20 years in a number of different settings and I can honestly say I have never worked for a better and more well respected manager, who absolutely gets the best out of all her staff by being positive, challenging and motivating. A truer integrated service would be very hard to find nationally."

Sharon was presented with her award by Councillors Christine Channon and Andrea Davis.