Sharon Urben
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
Sharon currently works in the Engagement Service, she is also the co-founder of Positive Play and has worked for Derbyshire for many years.
Over the past year there has been a lot of change with the creation of the Engagement Service, she has been a massive part to managing the great work we do with the young people of Derbyshire. Not only does she set a great example with her hard work and dedication but also because of her kind and approachable personality she inspires others to achieve.
Over Sharon's time working for Positive Play and the Engagement Service she has helped countless young people who are struggling with education, the wealth of knowledge she uses for her work has had such a positive impact on our young people in Derbyshire. Sharon is always learning and looking how to improve her work, being open minded to change or improving is one of Sharon's best qualities and this is why over my whole working career she is one of the best leaders I have ever worked with. Thank you.
Allicia Alvey
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Adult Social Care and Health
Reason for nomination:
I am nominating this person as they never fail to go above and beyond. They are in a manager’s job, never fail to do several roles on the go. Works in a home and will happily help on the floor. Inspires others. Always makes sure her tasks are complete and goes above and beyond as a person and as a manager to make sure everything is running smoothly and everyone is okay!
This woman inspires others to improve and continuously do better. She is always looking at new ways to improve or change things for better. She’s always there if anybody needs her. Many people look up to her and will always praise how well she manages her jobs and how she puts all others first.
Suzanne Tunnicliffe
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Supported me through the loss of my mum and son in-law to suicide in the same week along with my MS diagnosis and continues to support and encourage
Hazel Coates
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Hazel was promoted to Risk & Insurance Manager (G14) having been working as a Grade 10 Finance Officer. In her first year at the higher grade, Hazel has shown outstanding leadership skills to her team and more widely in the Council while adapting to her new responsibilities. During this time she has also steered her team to successfully manage pothole claims and deal sensitively with claimants and councillors.
She also successfully led the seamless transition of local authority maintained schools from council insurance to the Department for Education's Risk Protection Arrangement and was commended by the Schools Forum. In addition, she worked tirelessly with her team to prepare and publish the tender for the council's new insurance contract. Hazel is a great listener and shows great empathy to her team members, helping them through change and difficult issues. An exemplary manager.
Vicki Roper
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
I would like to nominate Vicki Roper for the Inspiring Leader award. Vicki has been an incredible support to me, inspiring my transition into a new role and providing unwavering assistance. Her approach to work has motivated me to become a better manager. Vicki is always willing to help anyone and takes full accountability for everything she does.
She is the go-to person in whichever department she works because of her friendly and approachable nature. Vicki is always happy to share ideas to help her wider team in HR. Her dedication and support have significantly impacted my professional growth and continue to encourage me to strive further in my career.
Bryde Beighton
Nominated by: John Smith
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
I love her for her dedication to DCC. The panel and voters shouldn't have any problem expressing their admiration for an employee who is always in the background and yet always there for anybody to receive advice and make DCC a brilliant place for all to work!
Karen Smith
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Adult Social Care and Health
Reason for nomination:
Karen is our service manager and without the support of Karen we wouldn't be performing as well as we are. Karen will support us in whatever capacity that we need and is there to offer guidance as and when required. Karen ensures the team well-being is good and does regular check ins and will arrange team building activities to support well-being.
Martha Jasko-Lawrence
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Place
Reason for nomination:
This is relation to the move of the collections when Buxton Museum was closed and sold. I have really enjoyed working up there and I am really proud of what we all achieved. I just wanted in particular to say how great it was working with Martha Jasko-Lawrence at Buxton Museum.
I have been really impressed how well she handled a difficult situation, treated everyone with respect, explained exactly what needed to be done clearly and really lead from the front. Martha never asked anyone to do anything she was not prepared to do herself. Martha was on with everything which let the rest of the team get on with what we needed to do. I have a lot of respect for her and she did an amazing job.
Yolande Dixon
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Adult Social Care and Health
Reason for nomination:
Since joining our team at Ada Belfield and taking on the role as Unit Manager, Yolande has proactively encouraged the development and aspirations of all the team on so many levels.
She came in and demonstrated strong leadership whilst at the same time taking the time to explain and gather feedback on any new ideas/changes. She has then also had the challenging task of helping support everyone during the uncertain times we are currently facing, always supporting us and the clients with a ‘doors always open’ policy. She is 100% an inspiring leader to us all!
Jenny Flint
Nominated by: Rebecca Heathcote
Department: Place
Reason for nomination:
I am nominating Jenny for the Inspiring Leader Award. She has, inspired myself and others by completing an apprenticeship and qualification in business management and leadership and encouraged myself to undergo an apprenticeship in the level 4 diploma in CIPS Procurement and Supply which I have recently started.
She has supported other team members to improve their skills in further training. Jenny is very sensitive to how individual people in the team works and she can spot if someone doesn’t seem happy or confident in a task they have been set. She regularly speaks to all team members individually to try and support ways of working that get the best out of people.
Jenny has developed innovative solutions using technology and software to help her with the team’s everyday workload by improving processes and making them more efficient and simpler for the team to process. Jenny has aligned these solutions with the council plan to work more efficiently and try to save time and money where possible. Jenny is always in the office in person every day and is always accessible to colleagues if they need her help and support.
Jina Hames
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Jina Hames has worked for the council for more than 25 years now and deserves to be recognised for all the people that she has helped over that time. And that includes me.
Jina has always been a very supportive person and is an inspiring leader. Jina embodies what the council is and will always have time for you. At each supervision and PDR Jina asks if there is anything we would like to have a go at and always thanks us for all of the hard work that we have done.
Jina arranges shadowing as and when we ask her to and supports her team when they are doing apprenticeships. She encourages us to apply for secondments and jobs saying it is part of her role to encourage us to move on. I have been away for nearly two years and was welcomed back into the team and assigned my tasks before I rejoined at the beginning of April 2025.
Jina makes sure that her team are always kept up to date with all changes and new information that we may need to complete our roles. Jina will always fight your corner. We have a regular team meeting, and we can offer feedback both positive and negative and Jina will take the information on board. A recent example is after a team meeting, we have been given the information and we will meet as a team and decide on what information will be sent out to all areas of Children’s Services.
Jina is a real inspiration to everyone who she comes into contact with. Jina makes sure that we all read the Council Plan each year to ensure that we know and understand what the council wants to achieve and how we contribute to the Council Plan.
Tracy Richford
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Being a supportive and understanding Team leader, who understands differing motivations within her team, who supports but encourages her team, helping them gain confidence to make sure continual improvement is being met within their work, they are very open to feedback and listen to align with the councils plans.
Sau Li
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Always there at the end of the line to offer support and help
Samantha Whawell
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Adult Social Care and Health
Reason for nomination:
Sam is always on hand to listen and give advice not only on a personal level but throughout the changes that have been happening within the service, she is always seeking ways to improve work streams and takes on feedback and ideas from her team. She pushes us to go above and beyond and not settle, she wants us to develop our skills and overcome boundaries.
Louissa Adams
Nominated by: Summa Watson
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
Louissa has listened to ideas and suggestions from our team (in Public Health) and collaborated with us and with innovative ideas to create pathways for Derbyshire Residents to get into employment.
She trusts each colleague involved to bring their work, ideas and effort to the task and has led to the creation of real solutions for several teams working with people who have complex barriers to work. She is always friendly and approachable and looks for solutions and ways forward. She is a real asset to the DACES team and has been supporting other teams leading the YES hub while their manager was on maternity leave as well as helping our team to welcome a government minister at short notice. She participates in mental health events with the choir she sings in and is a fantastic example of a colleague
Jack Breeze
Nominated by: David Jones
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Jack is a new team leader in the homecare scheduling team and now responsible for the Flexible Resource pool. Despite having the specific challenge this brings I have found Jack very approachable and knowledgeable with the systems and procedures relevant to the scheduling role. He has helped me several times with his in-depth systems knowledge. Jack always has time to explain things properly despite being in a challenging busy environment.
Sarah Taylor
Nominated by: Anonymous
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
This member of our team is relatively new to the service. Not only has she become a really valuable and much liked member of the team but she has stepped up to fill her own role, the role of manager for the other half of the team (covering for her colleague) and recently also covered for the head of service who has been on sick leave.
Even though she is doing the work of 3 people she is always cheerful, always has time to help and is always professional, thorough and conscientious. Sarah has gone above and beyond her role to help and support her colleagues, often in her own time and always smiling.
Hayley Prime
Nominated by: Sarah Taylor
Department: Corporate Services & Transformation
Reason for nomination:
Hayley is nothing less than an inspiring leader. Through the past 3 years that I have worked in DCC, she has constantly gone above and beyond to promote our interests, create a culture of trust and wellbeing and encourage us to achieve our full potential.
She sets a shining example of exceptional customer service as she is always willing to go above and beyond for all the different individuals and teams she supports. Even through times of change and challenge, she remains positive and calm to enable smooth operation of business services and inspires us to approach challenges with curiosity, understanding and patience. I particularly admire the way she has facilitated the two office moves we have been through (in July 2022 and January 2024) and the dedication she showed to supporting not just ourselves in Adult Care but the Welfare Rights and Children's Services in their moves too.
Another example of her excellent leadership has been her invaluable support through the current staff shortages. Staff in AVAO business services is down nearly 50% and as we wait for our vacancies to be approved, Hayley has picked up several of our tasks to alleviate our workload whilst she continues to do her own work and studies for her degree. She is always available to listen and offer guidance and I have full confidence in her ability to see us through the upcoming restructure into the OCSF. She is the best manager I have ever had.
Ella Vogel
Nominated by:Anonymous
Department: Children’s Services
Reason for nomination:
Ella has undertaken the considerable task of setting up and managing a new team within Derbyshire. Alongside her colleague Sharon Urben, she has faced the challenge of merging two long-established teams into one cohesive unit, all while maintaining uninterrupted, high-quality service for the most vulnerable children in the county.
Ella’s consistently professional approach to her role is truly inspirational. Her positivity and enthusiasm, even during the most challenging times, are qualities I greatly admire and strive to emulate. Her team regularly supports our service by sharing ideas and staff, which has not only led to significant cost savings but also contributed to the delivery of high-quality education to nearly 10,000 children across Derbyshire each year.
Ella’s unwavering commitment to Derbyshire - its children, her team, and the wider service - is exceptional and truly deserving of recognition.