PEOPLE are being encouraged to nominate hard-working and dedicated staff for a special award at a health and social care service that supports people in South Gloucestershire.

Sirona Care and Health, which provides specialist community health and adult social care, is looking for people to come forward about a member of staff who has “gone the extra mile” who will be recognised at the Sirona Awards for Excellence.

Nominations for the ‘I think they deserve it award’ are invited from the communities served by the not-for-profit social enterprise, which could be a nurse who visits daily, a receptionist who greets visitors with a smile or the team who has enabled a loved one to be cared for at home rather than hospital.

Janet Rowse, chief executive of Sirona Care and Health, said: “It is important we care with compassion but for Sirona it is also about helping those we care for have control over their lives and for staff taking someone’s care personally. We know one size doesn’t fit all.

“Our awards are a way of saying thank you to our staff and to recognise the contribution that staff have made to our success and, more importantly, to the lives of those who use our services.

“I want to hear about the difference staff are making and who better than those who use our services to put forward nominations for this category.

“It really can be for anything that has made a real difference to you – we want you to tell us why they deserve it.”

To nominate a member of staff visit www.sirona-cic.org.uk, email staffawards@sirona-cic.org.uk or write to Sirona Awards for Excellence 2015, St Martin’s Hospital, Clara Cross Lane, Bath, BA2 5RP.

The closing date for nominations is July 31.