Hillview Peaklodge
Nominated by: Stewart Toye
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
We would like to nominate the team of Hillview, who have achieved an outstanding outcome for their home for yet another year.
There is not a day that goes by when our team doesn't come to work with a smile on their face and spring in their step - with huge belief in how we can inspire our young people to aspire with fulfilling their hopes and dreams. With their passion - we have watched our young people flourish - this has never been without challenge, but the determination of the team shines!
Pernilla Selby-Sly
Nominated by: Thelma Hopkinson
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
I am nominating Pernilla Selby-Sly for the innovation award for all her help and support to our Procurement Team on the implementation of the new Sap Fiori system. She has been very innovative by developing process guides she has also found solutions when we have come against problems with the new system. She is always happy and smiling and very, very, helpful no problem too hard.
Val Ellis
Nominated by: Carrie-Ann Limb
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Val has exemplified innovation and transformation through her unwavering commitment to Process Improvement by leading improvement initiatives that have delivered outstanding results.
This year, Val has worked with the HRS teams on a series of changes that have not only streamlined internal HR processes but also significantly improved the service experience for colleagues and stakeholders. Working in close partnership with the Council and Traded Pay teams, she organised and facilitated workshops focused on identifying and eliminating process inefficiencies using the 8 wastes framework. These efforts have resulted in the removal of unnecessary steps, saving the department substantial hours of work while simultaneously improving service accuracy and delivery speed.
Her leadership in Process Improvement practices has led to:
• Optimised Workflows: By critically analysing existing processes and implementing targeted changes, together with the team she has helped enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of HR Services.
• Collaboration: Projects like the automation of L1’s for pensions have demonstrated the understanding of operational needs and customer perspectives, building trust and collaboration.
• Innovation: Val played a pivotal role driving projects within the HRS team enhancing digital capabilities. These projects not only standardised the processes but also equipped the team with new digital and automation skills.
• Empowering: Team upskilling has been prioritised, fostering a culture of continuous learning. Team members now feel empowered to propose and lead their own process improvements.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Structured meetings such as checkpoints and highlight sessions have reinforced cross-team alignment and shared ownership of goals.
Val’s impact goes beyond technical improvements—she has fundamentally changed how the team thinks and works. Val’s work is a shining example of how collaborative innovation can drive meaningful, lasting transformation in service delivery. Her achievements embody the spirit of this award.
Claire Morley
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
I am nominating Claire for her outstanding work on raising the profile, awareness and understating of neurodiversity in Derbyshire. Claire was instrumental in creating and delivering the Autism Advocates to increase awareness and knowledge in schools. This evolved into the ND advocates programme that embraced all aspects of neurodiversity. More recently she has been at the forefront of securing funding for the PINS project that has been crucial for many schools.
Through these projects, many hours have been spent providing support both in webinars, development days and being a source of support. Working within schools I know how highly thought of these projects are and seen the benefits they have brought. As an adult with ADHD who works with Claire, she is truly inspiring with her endless passion and commitment for all aspects of inclusion and her founding belief ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and always striving to educate.
Paul Clarke
Nominated by: Jay Patient
Department: Adult Social Care and Health
Reason for nomination:
Paul is an absolute credit to DCC and has worked tirelessly this year to bring a fresh perspective to our volunteering offer across Derbyshire. Paul has collaborated with colleagues across teams internally who may come across people who would benefit from volunteering, particularly those who may be far away from paid employment as well as colleagues across the voluntary sector to understand what the need is for volunteers and how we can best support them to develop volunteers within their organisations.
Paul has also been brave, bold and innovative in his approach to developing our volunteering courses and is currently piloting a new 'volunteer gateway' which takes a fresh approach to teaching skills required to be a quality, safe and happy volunteer. These courses have been developed specifically with the teams described above and aim to help people understand what strengths they have and how volunteering could help them as well as their local community.
Chris Hallatt
Nominated by: Renata Hale
Department: Place
Reason for nomination:
Chris has demonstrated exceptional innovation and collaboration in the development of the Incidents Reporting App for operators across SEND, Adult Care, School Bus, and Local Bus services. Starting the project in January, Chris worked closely with the IT team to transform a simple idea into a bespoke digital solution that is now live and accessible to over 300 operators.
Previously, incident reporting relied on phone calls and emails, often leading to delays, missed communications, and frustration among operators. Chris identified this gap and led the development of a user-friendly, 24/7 online reporting platform. This app not only streamlines the reporting process but also ensures that all relevant departments have immediate access to incident details, enabling faster investigations and clearer outcome tracking.
Over the course of 5 months, Chris showed remarkable initiative and leadership, expanding the scope of the project to meet the diverse needs of multiple service areas. His work has significantly improved operational efficiency, will reduce complaints, and enhance service delivery for local communities. This achievement exemplifies the spirit of the Innovation Award - delivering transformational change through collaboration, foresight, and a commitment to better outcomes for people and places.