Shared awards dinner leads to chippy tea Fridays for Roustel

Previously the meals have been funded using money that staff have raised through raffles, but Ravenscroft is now paying for them for the next 12 months after CEO Jon Ravenscroft and director Sophie Yabsley spoke to ward manager Helen Goldsmith and deputy manager Valerie Brown at the awards ceremony.

Roustel Ward won the Angel of the Year category for the work it does in caring for patients with dementia and other mental health conditions.

‘We couldn’t quite believe it when Jon offered to pay for a whole year. We strive to make our patients’ stay on Roustel Ward as enjoyable as possible and the small things, such as proper fish and chips from a chippy, really do make a huge difference,’ Mrs Brown said.

Mrs Yabsley said that the awards ceremony, which Ravenscroft has sponsored since 2016, had given herself and Mr Ravenscroft the time to find out more about the service that Roustel Ward provided.

‘Helen and Val were very passionate about the care given to the patients. When they explained why they held the raffles, we agreed to buy their patients a chippy tea for a year,’ she said.

Mrs Yabsley thanked the Chip Inn in Fountain Street for providing the food, and Sandpiper for donating some alcohol-free beer for patients to have with their meals.

As winners of the Angel of the Year award, Roustel Ward also received £1,000 in prize money, which has been spent on patients’ personal memory boxes and scatter cushions for the ward lounge.

‘The staff made the suggestions for purchases to enhance the experience and environment on the ward,’ said Mrs Brown, adding that winning the Pride award had meant a lot to them.

‘We were genuinely shocked when they announced our name but it gives recognition and validation to the daily hard work of the entire team.’