The aim of the Unite-CPHVA Excellence awards is to celebrate innovation and best practice across the CP professions.
After an information-packed conference day one, delegates gathered in the evening for this celebration and recognition of outstanding work in community practice. The atmosphere was rightly celebratory, and the room was suitably adorned, as everyone waited in anticipation to hear who had won. Each of the nominators gave impassioned speeches, outlining the reasons behind the award winners’ nominations. Glass-etched trophies were handed out to the winners and certificates of achievement were given to those who brilliantly made the shortlist.
After dinner, the evening continued with joyful catchups, music playing and dancing a plenty. Congratulations again to all those who
were recognised for their outstanding contributions and thank you to all who took the time to nominate.
HEALTH VISITOR OF THE YEAR
Pritrica Webber
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCNT)
Nominated because Pritrica reflects the very best of health visiting, bringing passion, professionalism and unwavering advocacy for the families she serves. As a SEND champion, she supports her own caseload and provides expert guidance to colleagues across the local team, ensuring children with additional needs receive the highest quality of care. Her commitment to continuous learning
demonstrates a proactive approach to professional development and service improvement.
Last year, Pritrica stepped outside her comfort zone to present a case study at a national early years SEND conference, where she delivered her presentation with clarity and professionalism. Families know Pritrica as a strong advocate, who will stand with them
and speak up on their behalf.
Colleagues know her as someone who uplifts others, keeps morale high, and approaches challenges with energy and optimism. Her ability to hold the clinical and human aspects of health visiting with equal care makes her an outstanding public health practitioner.
Nominated by Doma Hipperson
COMMUNITY NURSERY NURSE OF THE YEAR
Susan Bayliss (see picture on right)
Hertfordshire Community
NHS Trust
Nominated because Susan combines professional excellence with a nurturing, thoughtful approach. Her ability to mentor, advise and support colleagues, while maintaining her focus on children’s wellbeing and development, makes her an outstanding CNN.
Susan’s lifelong passion for early years child development is evident in every aspect of her work. She continually improves her knowledge and shares it with the team.
Susan’s expertise has a direct impact on children’s outcomes, fostering positive early childhood development. She is the cornerstone
of the CNN team and a SEND Champion.
Nominated by Doma Hipperson
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Jackie Hounsom and Jacqui Green (pictured left and right, below)
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, public health nursing
Nominated because this dynamic duo, who are responsible for developing and delivering training to the entire workforce, have produced goldstandard, evidence-based and equitable practice across the county. This has resulted in excellent student and staff retention.
Feedback from students, staff and colleagues reveals that the ‘two Jackies’ are excellent role models. It also highlights that the trust is very lucky to have such a strong educational and quality team to grow and develop the public health nursing workforce.
Nominated by Michaela Pedgrift
DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION AWARD
Denise Bottazzi (pictured centre, opposite)
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Nominated because Denise empowers colleagues, supports families and champions vulnerable communities, through her dedication,
mentorship and advocacy. She exemplifies the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion.
Recently, Denise has worked extensively with asylum-seeking families housed in hotels, navigating cultural and language differences with sensitivity and respect. She has also supported young, vulnerable parents, reducing their involvement with safeguarding services and helping them strengthen parent-infant relationships.
Denise is described as an exceptional health visitor who transcends professional bands, offering supervision, advice, and support to all colleagues.
Nominated by Doma Hipperson
INNOVATION OF THE YEAR
AEGIS Project
University College London (UCL) Hospital
Nominated because the AEGIS project exemplifies collaboration, co-production and inclusion, planting the seeds for lasting and meaningful change.
AEGIS was established to tackle the significant health inequalities faced by Children and Young People Seeking Asylum and Refugees (CYPSAR), who experience high barriers to care, poor data visibility and limited opportunities to have their voices heard. The aim is to co-produce evidence and interventions that improve outcomes for CYPSAR, while developing a long-term blueprint that can be applied to other vulnerable groups, such as looked after children.
The AEGIS Project (Advancing Equity for CYPSAR – A Blueprint for Generalisable Interventions) is a research programme hosted by
UCL Hospitals, with teams based in London and Manchester, and plans to expand across all four nations in the UK.
Since March 2025, the project has engaged CYPSAR through interviews, creative workshops and participatory methods. AEGIS embeds young people with lived experience as collaborators and co-researchers, supported through mentoring and skills development.
Nominated by Sophie Esnouf
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Anne Fearson (Pictured left, below)
South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust (STSFT)
Nominated because she is seen as an inspiration for established professionals and those coming into the profession. Anne leads
by example and clearly demonstrates that, by advocating for young people, their outcomes can be so much better, and they
are more likely to achieve their aspirations.
Anne is now a strategic lead for SEND in the trust, having worked for more than 30 years as a specialist health visitor for children
with additional needs. She ensures they are at the heart of decision-making within the trust and the local area partnership. Anne
has made a measurable difference to countless children and families during her time in this field.
Nominated by Diane Watson
LONG-SERVICE AWARD
Janet Lynn Gale (pictured right, opposite)
South Tyneside and Sunderland Foundation Trust (STSFT)
Nominated because Lynn has been invaluable to the future of health visiting in South Tyneside, supporting students one to one, staff, and all other pre- and postregistration nurses.
Lynn has retired after 26 years in health visiting and many years as a SCPHN educator, initially as a community practice teacher and later as a practice assessor.
Before health visiting, Lynn worked as a paediatric nurse for many years, serving the South Tyneside community, and has
continued this work throughout her career, closing the gap between primary and secondary care as a bank worker.
Lynn has also been an active member of CPHVA since a SCPHN student and has attended conferences every year since 2000.
She has supported CPHVA work as a union representative and as education lead for the North East.
Lynn also supported the Agenda for Change banding in South Tyneside and was successful in securing Band 7 for health visitors.
Nominated by Jen Menzies
LOCAL ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE (LAR) OF THE YEAR
John McLaren
Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, public health nursing
Nominated because John actively supports members and the collective staffside (other unions), including through challenging times, such as financial turnaround and Covid. He unselfishly gives his time to support anyone who needs it. In his fourth term as employee director, John is approachable, well respected and in high demand.
The people he serves are extremely grateful for his support, with the CPHVA membership holding him in high regard.
John is an advocate for community practice and always makes sure this is high up on the board’s agenda.
Nominated by Vikki Mann
THE SHORTLIST
All of the people below received certificates of achievement in recognition of their work:
HEALTH VISITOR OF THE YEAR
- Michelle Martin Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
- Jill Hill Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
- Jeanette Parker Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
- Rachel Watson Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
- Dionne Mellor Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
LAR OF THE YEAR
- Doma Hipperson Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Image | Unite-CPHVA
