Awards recognise work of care staff.

Byline: By Caroline Prichard, for the Learning and Skills Council Coventry and Warwickshire

CARE workers and organisations from across Coventry and Warwickshire are being called to enter this year's Voice of Care Meeting the Challenge awards.

The event, organised by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership for Care (CWPC) and mainly funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Coventry and Warwickshire, is the sub-region's second care awards and forms an integral part of CWPC's annual conference.

The awards are designed to recognise the professional status of workers in the care sector - by celebrating their hard work and dedication.

They also aim to highlight training and learning achievements as well as acknowledging best practice. Winners receive a trophy and a certificate as proof of their achievement and the closing date for entries is March 27.

More than 600 organisations involved with the care sector have been invited to enter. There are nine categories which are: learner under 21 years, learner over 21 years, manager, trainer/ assessor, special recognition, care organisation, training provider or college, innova-tion and partnership.

The annual conference on May 10, which has attracted more than 100 delegates already, aims to enable care organisations to share new ideas and expertise. Workshop themes this year include: Training the Trainer, Health and Well Being at Work, Team Building and Leadership, Workforce Training and E-Knowledge.

Janet Bogyor, development officer for CWPC, based at the LSC Coventry and Warwickshire, said: "The increasing popularity of this event, now in its third year, is proof of how seriously the care sector locally takes improvement and development of services.

"Our long-term aim, through holding events like these, is that the quality of the services we offer to our most vulnerable citizens is second to none and the partnerships between care workers, carers, and organisations in the sector continue to strengthen and flourish."

The conference has attracted sponsorship from the following organisations: training provider ETW, Learning and Skills Council Coventry and Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon College, Warwickshire Quality Partnership, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council, West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority, training provider 1st Choice Training, Adjust the Balance, Vis Communications Limited and co-sponsors North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, City College Coventry and Warwickshire College.

TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE or for entry forms and details about the awards or sponsorship, contact Vanessa Moore at [e-mail] or phone her on 07973 401269.

CAPTION(S):

SUCCESS STORIES...Last year's winners included Evelyn Markey (above right), of Coventry Training Consortium, in Frankpledge Road, Cheylesmore, Coventry, pictured accepting the trophy for winning organisation from Elaine Ives, of award sponsor Warwickshire Quality Partnership' and (left) Jane Biggs, training manager for the Beaufort Nursing Home, in Kenilworth Road, Cannon Hill, Coventry, who picked up the Special Recognition Award from Ken Marshall, chairman of award sponsor CWPC.