Congratulations to Anthony Browne, Physiotherapy Assistant at Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, who was shortlisted for a national Inspirational Support Worker award as part of a celebration held by Health Education England.
Anthony was nominated for his ‘quiet leadership’, contributing to the smooth running of the inter-disciplinary team and for providing excellent patient care.
On being shortlisted, Anthony said: “It was truly an honour to be nominated by my colleague, Zoe, but to be shortlisted and receive a special mention was totally unexpected, surprising, and greatly appreciated.
“I count it a privilege being an Allied Health Professional (AHP). Not only do I help my colleagues, but I also work alongside them in trying to achieve the best possible outcome for all our patients.”
Health Education England (HEE) host a webinar as part of their national AHP support workforce programme. This is a celebratory online event which showcases the AHP support workforce and their achievements.
The term ‘support worker,’ refers to non-registered staff who support the different clinical teams, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy assistants, and play a key role in delivering safe and effective care for patients across health and care.
Zoe Rothery, Neuro Specialist Physiotherapist, currently seconded to AHP Education, nominated Anthony having worked with him for several years and recognising his commendable contribution.
She said: “Anthony is respected by patients and colleagues alike for his calm demeanour and gentle humour. He is particularly popular with students and newly qualified staff who really value his support as they work to safely develop their skills in therapeutic handling and rehabilitation.
“Anthony’s contribution to the smooth running of the team and excellent patient care is particularly evident when he takes annual leave. This is when his quiet leadership is noticed through its absence. They say great leaders step back while their colleagues say, ‘look what we’ve achieved’ and I would say this was true of Anthony.”
Anthony supports not only the physiotherapy team, but the nurses, occupational therapists, dietitians and speech and language therapists in rehabilitating adults with extremely complex needs after a neurological injury.
He has established systems that are intuitive and easy to use, thus contributing to minimising wasted time and resources. He is also the consistent eyes and ears of the unit, advocating for patient and staff safety – quietly stepping in to support the team to work safely to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.
Highly valued by patients, Anthony is recognised for his commitment to encouraging their recovery, not only through physiotherapeutic input, but by getting to know them as an individual, along with their personal needs.
Taking a holistic, person-centred approach to care, often with patients who have experienced significant cognitive or communication impairments, Anthony strives to provide excellent care every time, helping ensure patients and their families have positive experiences of our care.