“Friendly face” Manish wins Chairman’s Award
9 August 2018
Manish Gajjar was recognised for his welcoming nature by winning our latest Chairman's Award.
A man described as “the friendly face” of a Shropshire children’s assessment centre has been recognised for the kindness and reassurance he offers parents and children.
Manish Gajjar, Section Head for Children’s Audiology and Children’s Therapies, works at Stepping Stones Centre in Telford, which provides assessment to children with additional needs, who are aged five years and under.
At the latest meeting of the Board of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Manish was presented with the Chairman’s Award, after being nominated by service user, Jayne Stevens, who is also Participation Co-ordinator for a Parent Carer Forum.
Jayne said: “Manish is always so welcoming, he always has a smile on his face and nothing is too much trouble - but the best bit is his engagement with families who attend Stepping Stones and also with the children – he is just so lovely, kind and reassuring and makes people feel at ease.
“It’s great that there is someone like Manish, who can engage with a smile and a pleasant attitude to his working life and make the lives of all the visitors just a bit brighter.”
Manish, who attended the meeting where he was presented with the award, said he felt “privileged and honoured” to have been recognised.
He said: “I felt totally shocked to have even been nominated but to actually win the award is a huge honour. It was lovely to hear the kind words said about me but really I consider all of what was said about me as me just doing my job.
“The parents of the children seen at the centre are usually anxious ahead of their appointments, so I always try my best to make them feel calm by treating them with compassion and care. That makes them feel as at ease as possible.
“We, as frontline staff, are always the first point of contact for everyone who visits the centre, so I always ensure I give the best first impression of the centre as possible. That’s very important.”
Mike Ridley, Chairman of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said: “I’d like to congratulate Manish for his positive attitude and strong rapport with our service users.
“I’m told by Manish’s colleagues in the Children and Families Team that this feedback is entirely justified and reflects his attitude to his work day-in-day-out. He’s known by service users as the friendly face of Stepping Stones, so it’s of course a privilege to present this award to Manish.”
Pictured: From left, Mike Ridley, Chairman of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, presenting the Chairman’s Award to Manish Gajjar, Section Head for Children’s Audiology and Children’s Therapies, who works at Stepping Stones Centre in Telford.
Manish Gajjar, Section Head for Children’s Audiology and Children’s Therapies, works at Stepping Stones Centre in Telford, which provides assessment to children with additional needs, who are aged five years and under.
At the latest meeting of the Board of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, Manish was presented with the Chairman’s Award, after being nominated by service user, Jayne Stevens, who is also Participation Co-ordinator for a Parent Carer Forum.
Jayne said: “Manish is always so welcoming, he always has a smile on his face and nothing is too much trouble - but the best bit is his engagement with families who attend Stepping Stones and also with the children – he is just so lovely, kind and reassuring and makes people feel at ease.
“It’s great that there is someone like Manish, who can engage with a smile and a pleasant attitude to his working life and make the lives of all the visitors just a bit brighter.”
Manish, who attended the meeting where he was presented with the award, said he felt “privileged and honoured” to have been recognised.
He said: “I felt totally shocked to have even been nominated but to actually win the award is a huge honour. It was lovely to hear the kind words said about me but really I consider all of what was said about me as me just doing my job.
“The parents of the children seen at the centre are usually anxious ahead of their appointments, so I always try my best to make them feel calm by treating them with compassion and care. That makes them feel as at ease as possible.
“We, as frontline staff, are always the first point of contact for everyone who visits the centre, so I always ensure I give the best first impression of the centre as possible. That’s very important.”
Mike Ridley, Chairman of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, said: “I’d like to congratulate Manish for his positive attitude and strong rapport with our service users.
“I’m told by Manish’s colleagues in the Children and Families Team that this feedback is entirely justified and reflects his attitude to his work day-in-day-out. He’s known by service users as the friendly face of Stepping Stones, so it’s of course a privilege to present this award to Manish.”
Pictured: From left, Mike Ridley, Chairman of Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, presenting the Chairman’s Award to Manish Gajjar, Section Head for Children’s Audiology and Children’s Therapies, who works at Stepping Stones Centre in Telford.
Page last reviewed: 29 September 2021
Next review due: 6 April 2026