Staff at Combe Lea Community Resource Centre, who not only cared for a great-grandfather moving away from his family for the first time but also supported his relatives, won the “I Think They Deserve It” award at the Sirona Awards for Excellence.

Sirona chairman, Simon Knighton, said: “This award is always a very special award because the nominations come from the very people we are here to support.

“Every nomination told a touching story of the difference our staff make to the lives of so many people – both those they directly support and their families and loved ones.”

The winner – Combe Lea Community Resource Centre in Midsomer Norton – was nominated by different generations of the same family for the support given to a 93-year-old resident.

His granddaughter said: “Thank you Combe Lea for your caring, individual love for my gramp over the past nineteen months. He is so happy there.”

Held at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, the not-for-profit social enterprise’s ceremony recognised those who have gone above and beyond their duties time and time again, with winners nominated by the public, their colleagues or Sirona’s Board and Senior Leadership Team. The event is held to coincide with Sirona’s birthday.

Sirona Care and Health provides community health and care services in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and residential homes and Extra Care facilities in Bath and North East Somerset.

Staff from all sections of Sirona were recognised at the ceremony from front line to corporate teams who all demonstrated going above and beyond to help those in need of care and support.

The awards presented were based on the chandelier at the Science Park, created by Bristol artist Luke Jerram, which features Crookes Radiometers.

Janet Rowse, Sirona’s chief executive, told staff: “I cannot begin to describe how much I love this annual event. It demonstrates everything that is core to Sirona – kinship, support, recognition and saying thank you. In the midst of our really busy day to day work it is all too easy to take each other for granted and to not notice those extra little, and sometimes not so little, things that people do to make life easier and smoother for all of us.

“Although there are always winners, the winners represent all of our staff who are living our ethos in their words and actions and I thank each and every one of them for this commitment.”

The night also featured the world premiere of the song ‘More Than That’ written by Sirona’s strategic lead for social care Simon Allen with fellow artist Sam Eason. It was produced by Stuart Bruce, who was behind the famous charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, for World Mental Health Day.