COMMENDEE 2023-24: Lisa receives a Commendation for her enthusiasm, skill, and compassion as Interventions Manager at Barton Moss Secure Care Centre – one of the many young people who supported her nomination called her “the best person I have ever met”, with another adding, “she changed my life”.

Lisa’s nomination

Lisa was nominated by: Kay Davidson (Head of Centre, Barton Moss Secure Care Centre).

The reason I am nominating Lisa for this award is because she is an outstanding member of staff and person. Lisa always goes above and beyond in the work she does with both the young people in this secure setting and the staff. She is a significant part of the infrastructure at Barton Moss and nothing is ever too much trouble. Her enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to and for the young people is infectious and second to none.

Lisa is passionate and highly motivated to ensure that even though the young people are in a secure setting, they have access to a range of opportunities that they might never had access to before. She is a key driver in ensuring that the young people at Barton Moss have their voice and opinion heard and listened to. Wherever possible, Lisa involves young people in decision making. Below are a number of examples of what Lisa has driven forward and made happen alongside the young people at Barton Moss:

• Ensuring that the young people have monthly Barnardo’s meetings so that their needs and concerns are heard and they are independently advocated for.
• Ensuring that there are regular young people’s panels for interviewing a variety of staff. Lisa ensures that different young people are involved in this. Recently the young people’s panels have interviewed a variety of professionals including nurses, psychologists, education staff, residential childcare workers, senior residential childcare workers and deputy heads of home.
• Ensuring that all young people in the centre can access an AQA subject and achieve an award that is in line with their interests and ability level. Lisa is passionate about enhancing young people’s self-esteem in all possible ways and ensuring they can leave or transition from the centre with qualifications in a range of areas.
• Ensuring that the population of young people at Barton Moss are represented in research and via research forums. Lisa has been the key professional that has regularly liaised with Manchester University professionals when this has been appropriate and young people have had the opportunity to participate in research and contribute in this area.

Yet all of the above are not Lisa’s main role, her main role is to undertake direct intervention work with young people who have received a custodial sentence. Lisa is highly skilled at managing what could potentially be highly shaming and traumatic work by being compassionate and diligent. She is skilled at providing a safe and supportive space, which enables young people to confront and work through their difficulties thus aiding their rehabilitation.

Lisa is a highly regarded professional by both those who work alongside her and come into contact with her. She is a team player and works collaboratively with all disciplines such as health, psychology, education and social care. It is a pleasure and privilege to work alongside Lisa.

The following are testimonials from young people at Barton Moss. For confidentiality reasons their identities have been kept anonymous but the testimonials are all their own words.

YOUNG PERSON A:
“Lisa Gray always goes above and beyond to help us young people. If I am struggling with anything from personal issues to cultural needs, I know she is the right person for me to go to. She’s not only understanding of our issues she deals with them like they’re her own.

When I came to this place, I struggled with cultural needs however, because of Lisa this is no longer an issue for me. She organised an Iman to come in and see me and I can’t put in words how much this really helped me cope with being in here.

Whenever there are opportunities to get involved in something positive Lisa always give us young people a chance to be involved and gain something that will help us in the future.”

YOUNG PERSON B:
“Lisa Gray is an outstanding member of staff. She has helped me through thick and thin. When I was going through the darkest stages of my life Lisa was always there for me. She has been my rock whilst I have been in custody. If I needed to talk to someone there would only be one person who I would talk to and that was Lisa. If I needed anything from a bible to a bit of advice, she was the person who would sort me out. If there was any sad news that I needed to tell my family Lisa would be the person sat by my side before, during and after the call and would make sure I was all right throughout.

When there was ever a new member of staff, she would help me get to know them and make sure I was ok whilst getting to know them. She has been my interventions worker for over two years. She has also helped me turn my life around and keeps guiding me down the right path. Whenever I went backwards, she would always be reassuring me that everything is a learning curve and that everything would be ok. She is the smartest, kindest, and most loyal person I have ever met, and I seriously thank her for that. She has changed my life for the best.”

YOUNG PERSON C:
“Lisa has helped me in many different ways such as giving me advice when I need it and checking I have the things I need. She always cheers me up if I’m not in the best of moods. Lisa has helped me massively with my offending and has showed me that it is not worth it. Lisa works a lot around offending and decision making with me and has helped me loads. I am so grateful, she has helped me change.”

YOUNG PERSON D:
“Lisa has been there for me since I’ve been in Barton Moss. She always helps me with my mental and physical health. If I was to write the good things down about Lisa I would be here all day.

She is kind-hearted and lovely, and thinks the best of everyone. She doesn’t single people out, she brings the best out in me, and never lets me down. She always checks on me if I look like I’m down and upset after I have been to court. Lisa is the best person I have ever met in my life, she is always by my side, and I’m not overreacting.”

The following testimonial is from a member of the healthcare team:
“Lisa is always there for you when needed. She provides a vital link between Healthcare, young people and the Residential team. Lisa has helped Healthcare with interviews, ensuring that we have young person panel to assist in the process. She does this off her own back, this is not part of her job role. Lisa always has an open door policy, and will always make time to listen to you, regardless of subject matter.”

The following testimonial is from a member of the management team:
“Lisa’s practice is Child First, she strives to realise the potential in all young people and her aim is to make the voice of the child heard. Lisa has taken a leading role in her passion for representing young people and has achieved this through her relationships with both staff and young people. Lisa is the person who staff will go to for support as her enthusiasm for her work is magnetic. Always cheerful, always willing to go that one extra step for young people and her colleagues.”

In conclusion

I joined Barton Moss Secure Care Centre 20 months ago. From my first day Lisa Gray has always stood out as an exceptional member of staff. She not only leads a team of intervention staff, who develop and deliver a range of interventions to our young people. She is passionate and committed to developing opportunities that will support and develop young people and ensure their thoughts, feelings and views are heard in many forums. She is genuine, kind and compassionate which are personal traits young people are very aware of and feel valued and listened to by her.

Lisa’s personal and professional contribution to Barton Moss SCC not only touches young people but also colleagues and visitors to the Centre. I feel privileged to work with her and so pleased she is part of my team.