The Southern Health and Social Care Trust has scooped four top prizes at the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards.
The awards celebrate excellence in the support for people with learning disabilities and aim to pay tribute to those who excel in providing quality care.
There were a total of 16 categories available for an award.
Southern Trust successes saw Marita Higgins, a Learning Disability Nurse in Windsor Day Centre, Newry, lifting the The Learning Disability Nurse Award.
The The Support Worker Award went to Jennifer Stone, Support Worker at Shanlieve, Kilkeel. The Making a Difference Award was presented to Denis Maguire, Forensic Learning Disability Services.
The Southern Trust’s Day Opportunities Team – which operates across the whole of the Southern Area – won the The Supporting Older People with Learning Disabilities Award.
This is the first year the awards have been organised in Northern Ireland.
Congratulating Southern Trust winners, Acting Director of Mental Health and Disability Services, Carmel Harney paid tribute to all.
She said: “It is such an outstanding achievement and a true reflection of our Learning Disability Services that so many Southern Trust staff have been acknowledged at the first ever National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards.
“We have a dedicated and highly compassionate team who do extraordinary work in partnership with our service users to support them to live as independently as they can to reach their full potential.
“I sincerely congratulate all of the award winners and indeed all of our learning disability staff for receiving such well-deserved recognition.”
