Horsham nurse ‘honoured’ to receive outstanding commitment award

Christine Morris, children’s community nursing team lead covering North West Sussex, won the Outstanding Commitment Award at Sussex Community NHS Trust’s (SCT) annual staff achievement awards held at the University of Sussex.

Christine was presented with this award in recognition of her inspirational commitment to family and child-centered care.

The awards event heard that Christine is an outstanding and compassionate clinical nurse and a true pioneer of children’s community nursing.

Christine set up and sustained one of the first children’s community nursing teams in the UK.

Speaking about her award win, Christine said: “I feel honoured to receive this award. I have been nursing for 45 years and have enjoyed all the opportunities I have been given.

“Setting up the children’s community nursing team in North West Sussex has been a highlight for me and I have met so many extraordinary children and young people with wonderful families. I am grateful to the Trust and to the staff who nominated me.”

Five other awards were presented to SCT staff who have stood out across the trust. The awards recognised: Excellence in Customer Service; Initiative; Quality; Staff Engagement, Outstanding Commitment and Behind the Scenes.

In addition, a Chair’s Award was presented to the person or team who has made a special contribution that goes over and above their normal role – this year the award went to the estates and facilities team.

Staff who achieved 40, 30 and 20 years NHS service were also recognised and awarded during the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Sue Sjuve, chair, SCT, said: “I have been incredibly impressed by all our nominations, humbled by the dedication, good sense and hard work I have observed when I have visited short-listed nominees.

“This year’s awards focus on how our staff and teams are living and breathing our values and for me the greatest accolade is that all the nominees were commended to us by their colleagues or patients. Being shortlisted and winning the awards is just the icing on the cake. Every nominee should feel very proud of themselves and proud to part of the NHS.”

Shortlisting was carried out by a panel of judges including patient and staffside representatives, previous award winners and our chair Sue Sjuve.

For full details of all awards winners visit www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk

Sussex Community NHS Trust (SCT) is the main provider of community healthcare across Brighton and Hove and West Sussex.

SCT employs more than 4,400 staff to provide essential medical, nursing and therapeutic care to over 8,000 people a day.

It works with adults, children and families offering service such as community and specialist nursing, health visiting, and therapies such as physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.