THOSE working in mental and social healthcare in Herefordshire could be in line to receive awards.

A number of those working for the 2gether NHS Foundation trust have been shortlisted for the trust's Recognising Outstanding Service and Contribution Awards (ROSCAs), now in their tenth year.

More than 270 nominations were received before a judging panel, consisting of service users, carers, public governors, trust management, sponsors and staff representatives, faced the difficult challenge of whittling the list down to a shortlist of just three nominations for each category.

The county's team is well represented in the Award for Innovation category, making up two of the three shortlisted nominations. They are Sharon Colley and Julie Swash (joint), learning disability nurse and physio technical instructor, and Robin McCarthy, art psychotherapist.

Martin Foster, from the crisis assessment home treatment team at the Stonebow Unit, has been shortlisted in the Best Supporting Colleague category while Ree Jefferies, manager of Herefordshire Community Learning Disability Team, is up for Best Supporting Manager.

Dr Matt Stainsby, clinical psychologist, has been shortlisted in the Service Users’ and Carers’ Choice and the Herefordshire Community Learning Disability Team in in the running to win the Non-Clinical Team of the Year award.

The county's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services is also up for the Clinical Team of the Year award.

Ruth FitzJohn, chairman of 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, who chaired the panel, said: “As usual, the standard of nominations was extremely high and this led to considerable debate among the judging panel in order to create a shortlist.

“The quality and volume of nominations is testament to the high standard of care and support provided by the dedicated individual who work and volunteer with the trust."

The nominees will be honoured at an awards ceremony on Friday, March 3.