IMPOWER’s Heroes of Christmas: 10 December

Our alternative advent calendar celebrates the people or teams who have inspired us this year

Jacky, Teresa and Tracy have inspired me greatly over the last 12 months. On top of the daily pressures of managing their part of the service, they have quietly and consistently got on with delivering the Better Lives programme in Ealing. This programme is bringing about better outcomes for service users and reducing costs. The team have empowered and supported their colleagues to deliver a strength-based approach to social care and robust performance management structures, with excellent results. Spend on placements has fallen by 5% since June and the number of people needing council support has been reduced by 3%. In other words, their commitment has shown that despite ever-increasing pressure on services, a strength-based approach and strong management can make a real difference. It is a pleasure to work alongside colleagues who are dedicated, unflappable and resolute!