Held to celebrate the very best in nursing, the annual RCN Awards took place today, on International Nurses' Day, at RCN Congress in Liverpool. Awards were given to RCN members who have made outstanding contributions to RCN members and to the nursing profession. Honours were also awarded to this year's Learning Representative, Safety Representative and Steward of the Year. The Award of Merit recognises those who have gone above and beyond to support fellow RCN members.
Sarah Dodsworth, Regional Director for RCN Northern Region, said: “The RCN Awards are presented to those who have made an outstanding contribution to nursing, either in their area of professional practice or in their support of their peers and colleagues. Kevin’s commitment to nursing support workers and the wider membership is simply inspiring. He has been the voice and conscience of nursing support workers on RCN Council and throughout the wider College, raising their profile in so many ways, including the launch of Nursing Support Workers’ Day. He always puts the needs of the members, of patients and of nursing, at the very heart of everything he does. Kevin is a deserving recipient of the Award of Merit and we in the region could not be prouder.”
Carolyn Mason, Chair of the RCN Northern Board said: “Kevin has worked incredibly hard to support members and ensure that the voice of nursing is heard far and wide. I am delighted to see his work recognised.”
He has served on the RCN’s Nursing Support Worker Committee for some six years (2017 to 2023) and became committee Chair in 2021. As Chair he worked tirelessly to amplify the voice of the NSW workforce in the College. Against all odds and during the Covid pandemic Kevin led the way to successfully launch the very first national Nursing Support Workers' Day in 2020. It is now an annual event in the RCN, NHS and social care calendars.
Kevin subsequently joined the College’s governing body, RCN Council, to represent the RCN’s nursing support worker membership in 2023.
Kevin is an accredited RCN steward, helping to resolve workplace issues and disputes and representing staff in workplace consultations. He also works on behalf of his local County Durham and Darlington branch and was a member of its executive committee from 2016 to 2018 and again in 2020.
