Inverness streetwork project officer is Employee of the Year

Photos from the Quality Awards

David MacIver, The Highland Council's streetwork project officer in Inverness, has been chosen as the Council's Employee of the year. He received his prize at the Council's annual Quality Awards, held at the Town House, Inverness, on Tuesday night.

David was nominated by Dr Liz Whittle, GP at the Council’s Homeless Day Centre, on Waterloo Place and his nomination was endorsed by Director of Housing and Property, Steve Barron.

David works on the streets of Inverness and liaises with rough sleepers, encouraging them to call into the day centre to access medical treatment or to register as homeless. 

Dr Whittle said: “He is extremely enthusiastic about his work, and carries it out with a mature and efficient approach – way beyond his years.  He is very caring and does everything he can to advocate for the welfare of his clients, whilst at the same time being very fair and honest in his approach.  I feel he richly deserves recognition and encouragement for this work.”

Mr Barron said: “David is part of a great team at the Homeless Day Centre, who do so much to help the most vulnerable people in our community. He is a credit to our service for the important work he carries out on the streets of Inverness.”

Short-listed for Employee of the Year were Fran MacLeod, care home manager at Inverness, who supervised the flit of staff from the Burnside Care Home to the Mackenzie Centre and residents to alternative accommodation as well as Marion Fraser, a clerical officer with Psychological Services at Inverness.

Three members of staff received awards for being commended by their Community Council for special recognition.  They were: Susan Menzies, manager of the Hilton Communty Centre, Inverness, who was nominated by Hilton Milton and Castle Heather Community Council; Henry Flett, community works officer in North West Sutherland, who was nominated by Tongue Melness and Skerray Community Council  and John MacLeod, foreman electrician, based in Brora, who was nominated by Golspie Community Council.

Team of the Year went to Portree Primary School, who excelled on the sports field and at the Scottish Education Awards where they won an enterprise award for creating a dual disc to encourage Gaelic through song and dance.

Trainee of the Year was Simon Hindson, a graduate planner with Planning and Development Service, based at Inverness.

Innovation of the Year was jointly won by the Council’s Performance Management Team for developing an on-line council ward reporting system and the Integrated Children’s Services Team for the support for learning initiative.

The event was sponsored by Morrison Construction, Zurich Municipal, Bord na Gaidhlig, Viridor Glass Recycling and the Clydesdale Bank.

The full list of winners is:

Chairman's Award: Revised Carbon Management Plan – Cross Service (Chief Executive’s Service; Housing and Property; and TEC Services)

Employee of the Year: David MacIver, Streetwork Project Officer, Housing and Property, Inverness

Also short-listed were: Fran MacLeod, Care home manager, Social Work, Inverness; Marion Fraser, clerical officer, Education Culture and Sport.

Trainee of the Year – Simon Hindson, graduate planner, Planning and Development, Inverness.

Innovation of the Year –  Joint Winners -  Performance Management Team for developing an on-line council ward reporting system; and the Integrated Children’s Services Team for the support for learning initiative.

Team of the Year – Portree Primary School

Community Council Commendations:  Winners