Inspirational care worker up for award
A BEHAVIOURAL expert from Cardiff, whose work inspires adults with learning disabilities to achieve their dreams, is celebrating a place in the final of one of Wales’ most prized social care awards.
Lisa Morgan, who has supported adults with learning disabilities, autism and challenging behaviour for almost 30 years, has been shortlisted in the Promoting Fulfilled Lives category, sponsored by Boots Healthcare, in the Wales Care Awards 2019.
Lisa, 51, from Llandaff North, Cardiff, will now attend an awards ceremony at Cardiff City Hall on Friday, October 18, hosted by tenor and radio host Wynne Evans, better known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV adverts.
The national awards are organised by Care Forum Wales and acknowledge the exceptional work and dedication of those in the care sector.
Lisa, who works as a performance coach and behaviour consultant on behalf of Dimensions Cymru, has been described by colleagues as a passionate care worker who has enriched the quality of life of those she supports.
The award marks a double celebration for Lisa, who was nominated for the Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) award in the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards earlier this year, in which she was a runner-up.
“It is lovely to be nominated again,” said Lisa. “You don’t do it for the recognition but it is really nice to feel appreciated.
“It’s massively rewarding for me to look back and see how far some people have come. To see how well they’re doing and how engaged they are with the local community and how levels of challenging behaviour have significantly decreased is everything.”
Lisa achieved a certificate in social care at Bridgend College after leaving school and worked as a nanny for 18 months. She then started as a nursing assistant at Ely Hospital in Cardiff, working with adults with learning disabilities and training to become a registered learning disability nurse over the next three-and-a-half years.
Her career then took her to the Opportunity Housing Trust, where she studied for a masters degree in positive approaches to challenging behaviour at the University of Wales College of Medicine before transferring to Dimensions Cymru, where she has worked for the past 12 years.
Lisa, who was nominated for her award by Russ Kennedy, managing director of Dimensions Cymru, now supports some 100 people in Wales, across 26 services, and delivers specialist training to staff.
Lisa’s work involves assessing service users and working with care staff to develop behaviour support plans as well as introducing positive strategies to improve quality of life.