Hard-working Inverclyde Council and health and social care staff have been honoured for their service to the local area.

Trophies and certificates were presented at the Pride of Inverclyde staff awards at the Beacon Arts Centre. It was the first time the awards have been held since before the covid pandemic.

The event recognised council staff across a range of services, including the Health and social care partnership (HSCP), for their work supporting residents, businesses, and communities.

There were awards for the teams involved in:

— Providing a safe haven to asylum seekers and refugees through the various ‘New to Scotland’ programmes supporting families who had to flee war-torn countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan

— Tackling period poverty by making sanitary products free and accessible for all.

— Providing sector-leading health and safety advice and guidance, particularly during the pandemic.

Long service awards were also presented to seven members of staff who have each worked with the council for more than 45 years -– or in excess of 315 years combined.

Employee of the Year is Nicola McGhee, the clerical lead at the Inverclyde Centre for Independent Living, for carrying out her day-to-day work to the highest standard, delivering positive change within the service, and supporting colleagues and service users, often going ‘over and above’ the call of duty.

Nicola said: “I was absolutely delighted to win Employee of the Year. I love my job at the Centre for Independent Living and I’m very lucky to work with an amazing team.

“To be nominated was a fabulous surprise, so to win is the icing on the cake. I’m so grateful to have been recognised in this way; it makes you feel valued as part of the team.”

There was also a Chief Executive’s Award that went to the revenue and benefits team for processing some 67,000 covid-related grants worth almost £32million to residents and businesses between March 2020 and February this year often working under very tight deadlines while adhering to the latest qualifying criteria and guidance.

Louise Long, chief executive of Inverclyde Council, said: “It would be fair to say that the team were running at speed as guidance was often coming in very late in the day with very little notice. They also had to cope with multiple changes to the qualifying criteria throughout.

“The team have also successfully delivered Cost of Living grant funds for the council and the Scottish Government. All of this additional work was delivered over an extended period, while managing to maintain high performance across core duties.

“They are the definition of ‘over and above’ and, like so many services of the council, they stepped up to support the community.

“Being the chief executive of this council is a privilege because of the dedication and hard work of the staff across the organisation who work tirelessly every day to make a difference to people that we serve. We have so much to be proud of here in Inverclyde.”

The Provost’s Award was presented to the cleansing team for their efforts keeping Inverclyde’s towns and villages clean and tidy, particularly Princes Street in the centre of Port Glasgow.

Provost Drew McKenzie said: “I see first-hand the excellent work our dedicated and professional cleansing team does on a daily basis to ensure our town and village centres in particular are looking their best for the people of this area and visitors.

“Princes Street in Port Glasgow, as well as places like the Esplanade and Lunderston Bay, are just some of the many locations they maintain day in, day out and often in challenging conditions for the benefit of each and every one of us.

“It was, of course, such a tough decision selecting just one service for the Provost’s Award because each of them, in their own unique way, makes a significant contribution to Inverclyde every single day so I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all our winners, nominees and hard-working staff right across the council for the work they have done and will continue to do for this area.”

A special Covid Recognition Award was accepted by the chief executive on behalf of all council staff for continuing to deliver first-class services throughout the pandemic and was presented by Councillor Elizabeth Robertson, who chairs the Inverclyde Alliance community planning partnership board.

Ms Long, said: “I know how difficult it was for the judging panel to narrow down a Covid Recognition Award to any teams or individuals as everyone made a contribution during the pandemic.

“That’s why it is entirely fitting to recognise every contribution made by every member of staff and the impact it has had on us.

“Though I accepted the award, it is very clearly on behalf of the entire workforce and it will be shared with every team to mark the incredible work they have done right across Inverclyde.”

Category winners and runners-up

Outstanding Achievement

Winner: New to Scotland and asylum/refugees services

A range of teams delivering support for asylum seekers, refugees, New to Scotland, and Ukrainians, including asylum health community team and community nursing team

Highly commended:

iPromise team
Gary Sweeney, roads
Caroline McCahill, children’s rights and information officer
Catriona Miller, head teacher, Aileymill Primary
Alison Irvine, head teacher, Moorfoot Primary

Excellence in Innovation

Winner: Communities and Health and Wellbeing Team, Louise McVey and Lynsey Logsdon. Period Poverty/Free sanitary products

Highly commended:

Kirstin Fraser, Principal teacher of health and wellbeing, Port Glasgow High School
Patrick Kilday, Joint equipment store, community care and health
Rhys McCole, Wellbeing coach, Notre Dame High School
Roads design team
Allied health professional team at Inverclyde Centre for Independent Living (ICIL)

Team of the Year

Winner: Health and safety: Russell Miller, David Strain, Alister MacIntosh, Pat McCabe and Pauline Ramsay

Highly commended:

Information and communication technology
Roads design team
Hillend Children’s Centre
Libraries service
Care and support at home recruitment team

Employee of the year

Winner: Nicola McGhee, clerical lead, Inverclyde Centre for Independent Living (ICIL)

Highly commended:

Pauline Ramsay, health and safety team leader
Ian Hanley, community justice lead officer
Chloe Havlin, PE teacher, Inverclyde Academy

Covid Recognition — All employees recognised

Chief Executive’s Award

Winner: Revenue and benefits team

Provost’s Award

Winner: Cleansing team (particularly Princes Street, Port Glasgow)

Long Service Awards

46 Years

Eleanor Loughran, unit manager, Crosshill Children’s Centre, Residential childcare

45 Years

Edward Coyle, vehicle plant supervisor, environmental services
Anne Doak, library support officer, libraries service
James Gallagher, senior janitor, St Columba’s High School
Gilbert McCracken, enforcement officer, environmental and public protection
Stuart McKenzie, grounds foreman, environmental services
Ellen McNeill, school crossing patroller