The Bristol Centre for Enablement has been shortlisted for the North Bristol NHS Trust Exceptional Healthcare Awards “Team of the Year” category.

The Bristol Centre for Enablement was formed in 2014, when specialised services in the region were brought together at Highwood Pavilions, near Cribbs Causeway, meaning that people with a range of complex disabilities can now benefit from a one-stop service.

The service has been successful in bidding for regional specialist provider status for Environmental Controls, Communication Aids and War Veterans’ Prosthetics. It also provides training placements for undergraduates, and contributes to job fairs. 

The team has successfully developed new Assistant Practitioner roles in Prosthetics, Orthotics, Wheelchairs & Special Seating and Communication Aids, with two foundation degree graduates winning awards from London South Bank University. 

The administration teams have also been developed, with several candidates successfully completing NVQs in business and administration as well as first line management qualifications from the Institute of Leadership and Management. 

The nomination for the award highlighted that "throughout the entire building there is the tangible buzz of a passionate team dedicated to the delivery of complex services to a highly challenging user group." Examples of the "above and beyond attitude of staff" included organising a Saturday children's party for prosthetic patients and their families to encourage peer support, supporting prosthetic patients in attending national sporting events, such as the Disabled Equestrian Games, and fundraising for a specialised toy library of switch-operated toys, and equipment for children with disabilities. 

Specialty Manager Henry Lumley said, "I'm extremely proud and delighted that our team has been recognised for the immense efforts of the past year or so. The bringing together of these services onto a single site has taken a huge effort from everyone, and to have that effort and the end result recognised in this way is a testament to the whole team."