Adolescent and Child Health Care Awards finalists

Specialist nurse in the Paediatric Diabetes Team at Oxford University Hospitals

Jo Ellis

She said: “I am totally bowled over and surprised at the nomination and feel very honoured to be shortlisted. I am so lucky in my role as a children’s diabetes nurse as I have the privilege to help and support the incredible young people of Oxfordshire. Any nomination is also a nomination for the amazingly dedicated team I work with.”

She was nominated by Chloe Churchill, who said: “Jo has been there since day one of my son Hayden’s diagnosis with Type 1 diabetes. It was a massive shock to me and the rest of the family and not easy, having a three-month-old baby girl as well. But Jo has been our rock and supported us through thick and thin with Hayden's condition, whether its at the hospital, when Hayden is at school or home. She's always at the end of the phone and will go out of her way to make sure Hayden is ok. She is now part of our family. This has helped massively during the two lockdowns. She's kind, caring and always gives it her all."

The Children’s Air Ambulance

Children's Ambulance

A spokesperson said: “We are delighted and feel honoured to have been shortlisted for the Adolescent & Child Care award. Throughout the pandemic the Children’s Air Ambulance, based at London Oxford Airport, has continued to provide lifesaving aeromedical transfers working alongside our NHS paediatric and neonatal specialist transport teams across the UK.”

The Children’s Air Ambulance was nominated by Air Ambulance operations manager Alfie Daly, who said: “Throughout 2020 the service has continued to deliver outstanding, lifesaving patient care to critically-ill children. The Children's Air Ambulance has worked closely with the pilots, engineers, designers, managers and clinical teams to ensure all mitigations have been implemented throughout Covid, which has allowed the service to maintain operational. The charity has adapted the aircraft to ensure it is safe by incorporating a 'Covid screen' and a specialist ventilation system to allow patients to be transferred.”

Nai’s House in Bicester

Nai's House

A spokesperson said: “We are absolutely thrilled. Over the last year the team at Nai’s House have been working incredibly hard in some difficult circumstances to ensure that our guests receive the support they need. Being shortlisted for this award has given all our volunteers a real boost.”

The suicide prevention and mental health support charity was nominated by Martha Bohan, who said: “As a young person struggling with mental health and put on many different waiting lists, I generally felt I wouldn't be able to seek the help I needed. That's when I came across Nai's House, a suicide prevention and mental health support service for under 30s. They have gone above and beyond all the care and support they give. I like the fact that I am not a name filed away after six weeks and I'm not user but I'm a guest. I think Nai's house should get the award as they provide excellent mental health and suicide prevention support for not just children and young people but also their families and loved ones too. Gem and the team at Nai's house understand that every child and young person is different and so should the treatment of mental health should be different too. Nai's house provides one-to-one support, crisis support, counselling, caregiver support, holistic treatments and activities by providing resources such as colouring pens, pencils and stress balls and holistic treatments. They have also developed safe talks to go into schools so more people are trained to help reduce mental health and suicide risk. "