Organisations from across the Walsall Together Partnership are celebrating after being shortlisted in the Municipal Journal Awards.

The shortlisting, in the Care and Health Integration category, was for the nationally recognised work the partnership did to support care homes who were struggling to cope during the covid-19 pandemic.

Daren Fradgley, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and Director of Integration for Walsall Together Partnership, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be finalists in this year’s MJ awards for our proactive partnership approach to dealing with the huge challenges our residential and care homes faced during the pandemic. The speed at which we were able to develop a local tracker, collecting data so we could understand where support was needed, and pull together a multi-agency team to deliver this support in care homes struggling with the challenges of COVID, is testament to the strength of the partnership. A big thank you to everyone involved and fingers crossed we make it all the way.”

Councillor Rose Martin, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care said:

“I’m very proud of what the partnership has achieved in supporting care homes and protecting our most vulnerable residents throughout the pandemic and am really pleased that our collective efforts have been recognised by the judging panel.

“I know that the care homes have really appreciated this new way of working, which helps ensure people in residential care have the best quality of life possible.”

From the lists of finalists the judges will then pick their winners. These will be announced at a gala luncheon celebration on Friday September 17 at London’s Hilton Hotel on Park Lane.