A SUPPORT worker for a Widnes social care charity has been shortlisted for a prestigious award, recognising her determination and commitment to those she supports. 

Vicky Battersby is a social care worker at Community Integrated Care – one of the UK’s largest adult social care charities.

She has been nominated for the Support Worker Award, which commends those who have gone the extra mile in championing their patients and strive for personal and professional development.

Vicky has worked at the charity since 2021 and has been nominated after the life-changing impact she has had on Stephen, 57, who has cerebral palsy and communicates non-verbally.

Samantha Brennan, managing director at Community Integrated Care, said: “Vicky should be exceptionally proud of this nomination and in all that she has supported Stephen to achieve.

“She has worked tirelessly over the past two years to understand him and his biggest aspirations in life- learning to translate his unique sign language to enable people to get to know the real Stephen.”

After discovering Stephen’s fascination with the emergency services, Vicky enabled him to spend a day at a local police training academy, and she has also encouraged him to plan his dream trip to Amsterdam.

Samantha added: “As well as empowering Stephen to live his best life possible, Vicky is also pursuing her own passion for career development through our charity’s bespoke Learn to Lead programme.”

The annual Great British Care Awards will celebrate an elite selection of care workers within the north west care sector, and winners will go to the national finals in March.

Community Integrated Care supports more than 3,000 people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia across England and Scotland, and employ 6,000 colleagues nationally.