THREE colleagues have cause for celebration after they scooped NHS England awards and recognition for showing fantastic leadership in Somerset.

Andre Clinchant, the manager of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s children’s community and specialist nursing team, won an award in the community leadership category. The accolade is testament to the work he’s done to support the team to grow and achieve excellent care and outcomes for the families they serve.

And senior community healthcare assistant, Clare Newington, was highly commended for the compassion she shows to help make the last days special for children who are nearing the end of their lives.

Dawn Bradley, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s lead respiratory clinical nurse specialist, was a finalist for patient-centred innovation for the excellent work she’s done on developing and leading on the Somerset paediatric virtual ward.

Having trained in Great Ormond Street Hospital, Andre began working for the trust in 1993, taking on various roles, including on the children’s ward at Musgrove Park Hospital, before he moved over to children’s community nursing in about 2000, where he was a specialist oncology nurse.

He took over the leadership of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s community nursing team in 2006 and has been in the role ever since.

He said: “It was a real surprise to have won the award, and although I’m not one for big fanfares, it felt really nice as I’ve done this job for a long time and that bit of recognition is really lovely to have.”

Beginning her career on the children’s ward at a hospital in Worthing, Clare went on to take up a post as manager of a day nursery in Surrey, before moving down to the south west, where she has worked at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust for five years as a healthcare assistant in its children’s community nursing service.

She said that being judged as highly commended in her category was such a proud moment for her. “I was recognised for the work I do with charities to make special memories for our palliative and oncology patients and their families,” she explained.

“My highly commended award was for a database of charities that my colleagues and I have created to make it easier for our colleagues to access and find out what additional support and special wishes are available to children with life-limiting conditions.”

Dawn began her nursing career on the paediatric intensive care unit at Bristol Children’s Hospital, before moving over to children’s community nursing in 2007.

In 2011 she took a post at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, where she now works as a lead respiratory clinical nurse specialist in its children’s community specialist nursing service.

She said: “Becoming a south west finalist is amazing recognition for the work I’ve done in developing the paediatric virtual ward in Taunton, as well as showcasing the great work that our children’s community nursing teams do.

“I’ve helped to highlight the growing importance of their role in providing high quality healthcare to children and young people with chronic illnesses and disabilities, closer to or in their own home.”