Since 2004, the Guardian has sought to showcase the best UK projects and initiatives in its annual Public Service Awards.
This year the Society Professionals networks, which serve communities of dedicated staff working in housing, health, social care, the voluntary sector, criminal justice and central and local government, have set out once again to recognise and reward excellence across public services.
We are looking to showcase the most innovative approaches that have been developed across public services, and create a forum for sharing new ideas and best practice.
As they read your entry, the judges will be asking:
- How effectively does the project or initiative meet the specific criteria of the category entered?
- Is there evidence of measurable, sustainable change as a result of the project?
- Does the project go above and beyond standard practice?
- What were the challenges the project had to overcome?
This year’s categories, each with their own specific criteria, are:
Care – sponsored by CGI
We’re looking for the best initiatives that put care of patients, residents and clients front and centre and for the projects that highlight best practice in social work. Tell us:
- how the project has had a positive, tangible impact on the quality of care or social work delivered by your organisation.
Digital and technology – sponsored by Havas People
Showcase your digital project. Whether it’s frontline or back office, tell us about the technology that has:
- improved your service, enabled better team working or delivered efficiency.
Finance
Finding savings and efficiencies in a time of austerity gets tougher every year. Tell us how your project has:
- minimised costs, transformed processes or innovated in a sustainable way for the benefit of service users.
Health and wellbeing – sponsored by Remploy
We’re looking for projects that have prioritised improvement in the health and wellbeing of staff or service users, whether it’s a particular focus on disability or mental health, or a scheme that encourages healthier lifestyles. Tell us:
- how your service has prioritises health and wellbeing, and the difference this has made.
Housing
With the housing crisis really taking hold, we want to showcase the most innovative projects in the social and supported housing sectors. From well-designed estates to new ways to support residents with dementia, we want to hear from teams that are supporting tenants in new ways. Tell us:
- how your housing project is different and how it supports residents
Learning and development
With public service employees working harder than ever, how do you ensure your staff have time and access to training and career development opportunities? Let us know about:
- a new partnership, collaborative working or a mentoring scheme, and explain how your team ensures staff are always learning new skills.
Recruitment - sponsored by Veredus
After years of pay restraint and public service cuts, finding and retaining talent isn’t easy. Tell us how your team seeks out, motivates and promotes your star performers, at all levels across your organisation. Explain how your project:
- has made a real and sustainable impact on recruitment.
Sustainability – sponsored by Repic
We want to hear about projects that are shoring up public services for the longer term: those that have demonstrably proved to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly or carbon neutral. Tell us about the most sustainable initiatives in UK public services, that are:
- innovative, cost-effective and have the potential to be developed and replicated across public services.
Transformation – sponsored by Ameo
With the public and voluntary sectors going through an immense amount of change, we are looking for the most inspirational teams and leaders involved in change management. Tell us:
- who, at any level of your organisation, has demonstrated vision and innovation and kept staff motivated in the face of change. Tell us what challenges the team or individual has overcome.
Public Servant of the Year
Do you know anyone who embodies the very spirit and ethos of public service? Someone who has gone the extra mile for service users and made a real difference to outcomes? We’re looking for the very best from across public services and the voluntary sector. Tell us:
- how this public servant has made a real difference and why they should receive an award for outstanding work in public service.
Overall Winner
This category celebrates the best of the individual category winners deemed by the judges to be the strongest of this year’s entries. This team will have demonstrated an exceptional level of application, innovation and achievement, and will have delivered substantial improvement in a public service that has made a real difference to people’s lives.
