People's Choice Award - Stars in Surrey 2024

Collette's nomination highlights her exceptional dedication and performance. Her relentless hard work, unwavering determination, and significant impact are all recognised by those around her. Collette exemplifies the qualities of a remarkable nominee: hardworking, determined, people-focused, and results-driven. Her compassion, collaborative spirit, and commitment to inclusivity make her a standout candidate.

Her work ethic is unparalleled, approaching every task with inspiring dedication and her commitment to excellence is evident in all her actions, from daily tasks to challenging projects. She advocates passionately for her clients, striving for the best outcomes.

Collette's people first approach means that she prioritises the needs and well-being of her clients and team, connecting with people on a personal level. Her ability to understand unique circumstances and offer genuine support fosters a sense of community and belonging, which is crucial in her work at South West Surrey Domestic Abuse (SWSDA).

She is a true team player, always willing to help, share knowledge, and support colleagues. Her openness and honesty create an environment of trust and mutual respect, empowering others to contribute their best ideas and efforts. She serves as an excellent role model.

One of Collette's most admirable qualities is her commitment to ensuring that No One is Left Behind. She goes above and beyond to support every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, promoting inclusivity and equality through her actions and attitude.

Collette also celebrates diversity and actively fosters an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. She values each person's contributions and works to ensure all voices are heard and appreciated. Her passion for her work and commitment to inclusivity are evident in her daily interactions and tangible results.

Despite the often challenging nature of her role, Collette remains a positive and motivating presence in the office, consistently bringing a can-do attitude to her work.

Elaine is a dynamic and caring professional, who is dedicated to delivering outstanding care to young people and supporting her staff. With years of experience, she is always ready to help and offer advice, even during chaotic times. Elaine's larger than life personality, often accompanied by a song, helps put everyone at ease.

Elaine's passion for working with young people is evident in her efforts to understand and meet their needs. She is solutions-driven and excels in creative, out-of-the-box thinking, seeing development opportunities everywhere - in young people, staff, or the wider service. She addresses issues promptly, drawing on her experience and team to find realistic solutions while being open to all opinions and suggestions.

Elaine's ability to highlight positive qualities in young people and make them feel valued is one of her standout traits. She is caring, honest, and ambitious, serving as a role model for both young people and her colleagues. Her unapologetic authenticity is admired by all, and her influence is deeply felt by her team.

Elaine's dedication to her work with young people in Surrey is unmatched. Her commitment to their well-being and development, along with her support for her colleagues, makes her a deserving candidate for recognition. Her positive impact and unwavering professionalism have left a lasting impression on everyone she works with.

In April 2022, Gerry Hughes, Assistant Director for Support Services, took over the Surrey School Travel and Assessment Team (SSTAT) as part of the Home to School Travel Assistance Improvement Programme. At that time, the service faced significant challenges, including increased demand for travel assistance for children with additional needs, financial pressures on local authorities, and numerous complaints from parents and MPs.

Over the past 18 months, the service has transformed under Gerry's leadership following a learning review and a restructure. The team has achieved remarkable results, implementing innovative projects and improvements in administrative processes, software, staff wellbeing, and service delivery. Gerry attributes these successes to her team, never taking credit for herself.

Gerry excels at breaking down complex problems pragmatically and calmly. She has been determined to improve team morale and provide the best possible service for families. Her leadership has been recognized by senior officers and members.

Gerry is hardworking and leads by example, often getting involved directly in tasks. During challenging times, she worked alongside her team to ensure no one was disadvantaged by delays. Her compassionate and empathetic approach is evident in her decision-making.

Throughout the staff restructure, Gerry maintained honesty and transparency, earning the respect of her team. She genuinely cares about the families and groups supported by the service, fostering collaboration with stakeholders through meetings and improved communications. She listens to feedback and makes timely decisions.

As a manager, Gerry is supportive and always makes time for her team. She creates a collaborative environment where everyone can grow and develop, ensuring no one is left behind. Under her leadership, the team is happy and supportive, providing the best possible service for families. Gerry's dedication and effective leadership have led to significant improvements and a positive working environment.

Jane is a passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, particularly for autistic individuals. She is highly respected across Surrey for her dedication to meaningful change for residents, parent carers, families, and staff. Jane leads a neurodiverse team, embracing an Inclusive Apprentice and Autistic Intern, demonstrating what is possible with the right support.

Jane embodies the principle "nothing about us, without us," dedicating her evenings and weekends to engage with youth groups, LGBTQ+ groups, community meetings, and schools. Her efforts ensure that autistic people's views are integral to the All-Age Autism Strategy. Jane's enthusiasm extends beyond autistic individuals; she has made significant strides in breaking down barriers with the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller community, and minority ethnic groups. Her people-first approach keeps residents at the center of her work, and she is not afraid to challenge and hold others accountable.

A notable example of Jane's impact is her collaboration with the Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) to run information events for minority ethnic communities. These events raised autism awareness with support from colleagues in Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Public Health.

Jane provides extensive advice and guidance to schools on neurodiversity and creating inclusive environments. She coordinates specialist training on sensitive issues like Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and Masking in Autistic Girls. Jane also delivers awareness sessions for council colleagues to ensure inclusion for both residents and employees.

Jane's retirement is set to coincide with the end of the All-Age Autism Strategy 2021-2026. However, her colleagues plan to extend the strategy to continue her legacy. Jane's genuine, honest character and her commitment to continuous improvement make her a beloved and influential figure in her community.

Autism by Experience is a unique team in Surrey, primarily composed of autistic individuals, providing consultancy and training on autism and neurodiversity. Their work ensures autistic voices are heard and helps various organizations better support their autistic clients. By equipping staff with knowledge about autism, they enable these professionals to make a positive difference in autistic people's lives.

The Surrey Peer Project, one of their initiatives, supports recently identified autistic adults seeking employment by providing information, tips, and validation. This helps them understand their autism, identify strengths, and gain confidence to ask for necessary workplace adjustments. Trainers, who are also autistic, offer realistic and positive expectations.

Autism by Experience has developed an e-learning module for council staff, featuring real examples. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to autism, enabling staff to better support autistic people. It also allows for more tailored training for Social Services teams.

The team has updated and delivered the Surrey Autism Champions programme, offering in-depth training to representatives from various organizations. These trained individuals can then advise their colleagues on effective communication and reasonable adjustments for autistic clients. Their Surrey Prisons Project aims to train prison staff on autism, improving their ability to support autistic prisoners. Additionally, Autism by Experience supports the Autism Friendly Communities project by raising awareness and encouraging businesses to make communities more inclusive.

They also produce targeted leaflets and autism-friendly information materials, such as those for Waverley Borough Housing, to improve service accessibility, provides expertise on various projects.