The 2025 HOSCARS winners

The 2025 Homerton Outstanding Service Contribution and Recognition (HOSCARS) staff awards took place on Thursday 9 October, our staff awards night celebrating the very best of teamwork, dedication and innovation in Homerton Healthcare.

It was a fantastic evening filled with energy and appreciation, as colleagues from across the Trust gathered to cheer each other on and highlight the outstanding work and achievements from the past year.

We were thrilled to welcome back our brilliant host, Dr Ronx, who this year had a special guest co-host, Jonny Woo who entertained the crowd with his incredible musical performances! 17 awards were presented by our Executive Team to truly inspiring individuals and teams.

Check out the winners and details what bagged them the win below.  A huge thank you to our charity Homerton Hope for helping make the event a reality.

Improving the health and wellbeing of our communities

Transforming the lives of patients and residents in the community  

Winner: Julie Rafferty

For 30 years, Julie has been an unwavering force in the delivery of children’s care across our community. As a dedicated Technical Instructor, Julie has gone far beyond the scope of her role—continuing to support the service even after retirement—and has made a lasting difference to the lives of countless children, families, and colleagues. Her advocacy for children and families is tireless; she ensures that their voices are heard and their needs understood at every stage of care. 

Involving service users to improve patient safety

Winner: Maternity Clinical Governance Team

The team leads with compassion and innovation, setting a powerful example in involving service users in care reviews. They were the first to invite service users to round tables, ensuring their voices were not only heard but truly valued. Two families have already taken part, and their contributions have been transformative. One in particular played a key role in shaping improvements and shared her powerful story at the Trust Patient Safety Conference—moving the room to tears.

Delivering outstanding, equitable care

Clinical employee of the year 

Winner: Samuel Agyemang

Samuel is always trying to find ways to improve services and patient experiences. Since starting his role in Acute Medicine, he has made a positive impact undertaking new pharmacy projects like the green bag scheme to help support patients. Samuel is extremely professional, taking pride in his work, ensuring that all patients that are admitted have their pharmaceutical needs met. 

Non-clinical employee of the year 

Winner:Roma Gajre

Roma brings a rare blend of precision, insight, and humanity to her role as a People Analyst. In a time where data is central to every decision, Roma ensures that behind every number is a voice, and behind every report is a purpose. Her ability to unpick complex information and present it with empathy and clarity sparked constructive dialogue across departments and directly informed new Trust policies. 

Leader of the year

Winner: Donna Underwood  

Donna leads the adult community rehabilitation team (ACRT) and Wheelchair Service with compassion, kindness, resilience, and an all-important sense of fun. She is knowledgeable, skilled and savvy, advocating and supporting the team within Homerton and externally. She has supported the staff wellbeing sessions, being a strong advocate for mindfulness and self-compassion work within the team. Donna has helped create a team culture that is supportive and leads by example promoting kindness and respect at work.

Developing happy, healthy and heard staff

Improving equality, diversity and inclusion

Winner: Phoebe Reilly

Phoebe has not only championed equality, diversity and inclusion she has redefined how it is practised. As the architect of IDEALS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, Learning and Support), Phoebe has developed a transformational anti-racism and inclusion framework that is now embedded across the Hackney Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service and is being adopted across wider therapy teams, other NHS Trusts, and university training programmes. She brings people with her, creates psychologically safe spaces for growth, and embeds accountability through leadership commitments

Supporting staff wellbeing and joy at work 

Winner: Victoria Chow

Victoria set up a running club for the therapy staff on Graham ward. Her initiative has brought the team together, helped them destress, and encourage a healthier, more supportive workplace. By creating a safe, inclusive space for colleagues to focus on their fitness, mental health, and connections with one another, she has cultivated a culture where people truly feel they can bring their whole selves to work. She encourages positivity and leads by example, inspires, motivates, and cares deeply for her team and others, reinforcing a workplace culture where joy, encouragement, and self-belief flourish.

Strengthening partnerships

Provider colleague of the year 

Winner: Haydar Top

Seeing Haydar at work is like a masterclass on how to manage crisis situations. He leads his Security team by example and is a huge asset to the Trust. He is always extremely responsive and can quickly diffuse a difficult situation with professionalism and empathy. Haydar really stands out as going above and beyond. He is dedicated, kind and supportive, and we are incredibly lucky as a Trust to have his support in making a difference to patient care.

Working together in partnership 

Winner: Vocational Rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy in Hackney Marshes   

This team is a leading example of how innovation and compassion can address health inequalities through primary care. They have developed a pioneering model that supports individuals in returning to or staying in work, while tackling systemic barriers to health equity. 

Secure our future

Making Homerton Healthcare a greener more sustainable organisation

Winner: Graham Ward gardens

The Graham Stroke Unit staff have shown exceptional leadership in embedding sustainability into clinical care through their innovative garden project. This initiative has transformed an underused outdoor space into a vibrant therapeutic garden that is now central to stroke rehabilitation at Homerton. Weekly horticultural therapy groups and one-to-one sessions are held outdoors, supporting patients’ physical and psychological recovery.

Making the most of resources and saving money

Winner: The Homerton Primary Care
Health and Wellbeing Days

This is a landmark event focused on community-centred, sustainable healthcare delivery. Held here at Hackney Town Hall, this year the event brought together over 1,000 patients from across all City and Hackney practices in a single day, offering a powerful demonstration of what integrated, preventative care can achieve.

Fostering innovation, improvement and learning

Innovation and improvement project of the year

Winner: Cancer Service Target Improvement

Homerton Healthcare’s cancer services have beaten all three national cancer waiting-time standards for many consecutive months, thanks to incredible teamwork across the Trust. This sustained performance is the result of a year-long, trust-wide effort to improve the culture and systems underpinning cancer pathway management. A truly magnificent achievement made possible by the sheer hard work of many Trust staff.

Education, research and development scheme of the year 

Winner: Starlight Practice
Development Project

This team has redefined how their nurses are supported through a structured, responsive, and high impact education programme. With a workforce composed predominantly of staff within their first year of practice, the team identified the urgent need for a tailored approach to development that would build confidence, competence, and cohesion from the outset, which led to the creation of an innovative and effective 90-day education plan. The project that has shown a bespoke approach which has led to some incredible results despite ambitious targets. Team members have been empowered throughout and they are all a credit to the Trust.

Teams of the year

Clinical team of the year

Winner: Complex Communication Clinic

The complex communication clinic is a MDT made up of Paediatricians, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and CAMHS clinicians who undertake the Autism diagnostic process for children under 5.  This team are child and family centred and holistic.  They go above and beyond to ensure the journey is smooth for families at this difficult time.  If needs are identified relating to a specific profession such as needing a home safety assessment by OT, or psychological support provided by CAMHS, or other diagnoses for neurodiversities such as DLD and DCD this is done within this clinic rather than referring back into other parts of the Hackney Ark services. This minimises need for appointments, and creates continuity for families, it adds value to their journey.   The Lead Paediatrician Dr.  Wong sets the culture of the team by being respectful, empathetic and dedicated.  The team culture is positive, open and supportive and always striving for better ways to deliver patient care.  The team will go above and beyond to support families.

Non-clinical team of the year 

Winner: Adult Community Rehabilitation
Team (ARCT) Admin Team

This team are truly amazing. They are always there to support clinical staff in any way they can. They ensure ACRT continues to run smoothly so the clinicians and management can concentrate on doing their jobs as effectively as possible. They are an amazing asset to the Trust. The team have really stepped up, especially during some challenging times. Their efforts make a huge difference to the care that is provided at the Trust and they are thoroughly deserving of this award.

CEO Rising Star

Chair's Unsung Hero

Winner: Carie Rodger

Carie brings energy, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her role as a theatre nurse in the SWNS division. For over a decade, she has gone above and beyon, arriving early, staying late, and always putting patients first. Carie’s quiet determination and generosity inspire those around her, enabling her team to deliver the very best care. This year, she united colleagues to raise over £6,000 for charity through the Hackney Half Marathon, showing her ability to bring people together for a greater cause. Carie is a true asset to Homerton, embodying our values of teamwork, excellence, and dedication in everything she does.

Winner: Sue Collinson

For two decades, Sue has been a steadfast advocate for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. As a TB caseworker, her compassion and tireless commitment have ensured that patients receive not only medical care, but also vital support with housing, food, and wellbeing. Sue’s deep knowledge of local services and her determination to leave no one behind have helped bring down TB rates in City and Hackney, and her work has been nationally recognised. She led a pioneering campaign to secure housing for homeless TB patients, earning the Sir John Crofton Prize, and has been a powerful voice for migrant communities. Sue’s legacy extends beyond the Trust—she lectures, publishes, and inspires others to champion inclusion in healthcare. Her humility, wisdom, and unwavering dedication have transformed countless lives, and she leaves an indelible mark on our community.