Torbay celebrates National Customer Service Week 2011

Torbay celebrates National Customer Service Week 2011

Residents across Torbay are being invited to nominate council and partner organisations staff who go the extra mile and provide excellent customer service.

As part of a national campaign, the council, along with the police, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service and the Torbay Care Trust, will be taking part in National Customer Services Week from 3-7 October to celebrate good practice and dedication to customer service.

This year's awards have been sponsored by the Finlake and Devon Hills holiday parks, part of the Haulfryn Group. The Haulfryn Group is generously providing fantastic prizes of short breaks and holidays at one of its exclusive resorts in the UK for the winners of categories 1 - 7 listed below.

A range of activities will be taking place throughout the week, including senior members of council staff and councillors going 'back to the floor' in Connections offices and the council's reception areas.

This special event aims to raise the profile and importance of excellent customer service throughout the council and its partner services.

Cllr Ken Pritchard, said: "I am delighted that Torbay Council is taking an active role in National Customer Service Week. Taking part in this initiative shows our customers how dedicated we are to providing excellent customer service, and it is a great way of rewarding staff for their hard work.

"At Torbay Council our goal is to put the customer at the heart of all we do. Our residents are our number one priority as our customers. We are here to serve the needs of the Torbay community and this week gives us the opportunity to reward staff who provide effective services to the public and good customer service. Anyone who has received excellent customer service is invited to nominate members of council staff and give them the recognition they deserve. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Finlake and Devon Hills holiday parks, part of the Haulfryn Group, for sponsoring the week and for the incredibly generous prizes for the winners."

The categories this year are:

1) Community Award - the worker whose work has helped engage residents in activity leading to positive outcomes for their community

2) Green Award - the worker whose ideas and dedication have made a positive impact on the environment, internally, locally or nationally

3) Working with Young People - the worker who has helped to change a young person's future or help to set up a successful youth facility

4) Care and Commitment - the worker whose care has helped change somebody's future

5) Torbay Together Award - the Torbay Together award for someone who has worked effectively with different partners across the Bay including the council, health authority, fire and rescue, police and voluntary organisations to improve the way in which a service is delivered to the community

6) Customer Care 'Out and About' – the worker who has provided outstanding customer service outside an office environment for internal or external customers

7) Service Excellence 'Front Office and Support Services' - the worker who has gone beyond the call of duty and provided outstanding customer service in an office-based role for internal or external customers

8) Team Award - outstanding team of the year

Community Safety Manager Pat Tyler, based at Torquay Fire Station, said: "Customer service is very important to Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service. An example of this is that recently we have launched a participatory budgeting scheme in Torbay, where we will donate £5,000 to a community project, decided by members of the public. We are the first fire service in the country to operate such a scheme and this demonstrates how interested we are in our customer service."

Partnership Inspector Adrian Leisk, said: "With the police being an emergency service, there are a wide range of issues staff have to deal with every day, many of which can be quite distressing. Working in customer service roles can be very demanding but staff are very professional and committed to the job. This is a great opportunity for the public to show its appreciation and reward staff who have gone the extra mile for them."

Mandy Seymour, Chief Operating Officer at Torbay Care Trust, said: "It's vitally important to the Care Trust that our patients and service users have a good experience of our services from the first contact through to receiving advice, care or support.

"We see every member of staff as an ambassador of our Trust and the wider NHS and Customer Service Week is an important opportunity to celebrate that commitment."

Residents can nominate individuals or staff teams by completing a nomination form online -- visit www.torbay.gov.uk/ncsw -- or by filling out a paper form, available from Connections offices, libraries and council reception areas. Alternatively please call the council's main telephone number on 01803 201201. Completed forms should be placed in the box provided or send to: NCSW, Third Floor, Tor Hill House, Torquay, TQ2 5QW.

Closing date for entries is Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 5.30pm.

An award ceremony will be held at Torquay Connections on Friday, October 7 at 5.30pm to reward staff who have provided excellent customer service.

Further information about National Customer Service Week is available at www.torbay.gov.uk/ncsw or by visiting www.nationalcustomerserviceweek.com

Geograph image by Derek Harper.