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What are the
NI PAFTAs?

The Paediatric Awards For Training Achievements (PAFTAs) are regional paediatric awards across the UK, originally organised by the Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (RCPCH). 

 

The NI PAFTAs are our own local awards, and an annual opportunity to recognise the excellence of our extremely hard-working paediatric staff in Northern Ireland!

 

Over the years the awards have grown beyond paediatric medical training, and we're delighted they now encompass the wider paediatric MDT!

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It is a way of celebrating the contributions our colleagues make every day, and is your chance to say ‘thank you’ in a simple and effective way.

Celebrating Excellence

The NI PAFTAs are an annual opportunity to nominate and celebrate the best of the best in Northern Irish Paediatrics. Multiple nominations can be made across various categories of local awards representing the entire Paediatric MDT, with the winners announced at the annual PAFTAs awards ceremony.

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There are 10 awards in total, but the winners of 3 categories are also put forward for national PAFTA awards, chosen by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health:

  1. Core Trainee Hero (ST 1-4)

  2. Specialty Trainee Hero (ST 5-8)

  3. Educational Supervisor

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You can make multiple nominations for each award, but please provide us with a full name and email (if you can) for your nominees to help us track them down. Nominations are judged based on what you write in your nomination, so please provide examples of why your nominee deserves the award! The richer and more detailed, the better their chance at winning! â€‹

What are the award categories?

Core Trainee Hero
(ST1-4)

Nominations for Junior Trainee Hero are invited for any trainee between ST1 – ST3 inclusively at the time of the awards. The trainee should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

Training Unit of the Year

Nominations for Training Unit of the Year are invited for any unit or department who host paediatric trainees within your Deanery/LETB. The unit should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the education and training of paediatric trainees

  2. Hosts an environment of exemplary support to trainees

  3. Brings innovation to teaching and education

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

MDT Hero

Nominations are invited for any professional within the wider multi-disciplinary team (SLT, physiotherapy, dietetics, OT, radiography, technicians, phlebotomy to name a few) who improves paediatric care in NI through commitment to innovation, quality improvement, excellent patient care and exemplary team-working. This person should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in Paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Empowers, enables and encourages colleagues through their work

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

Specialty Trainee Hero
(ST5-8)

Nominations for Senior Trainee Hero are invited for any trainee between ST4 – ST8 inclusively at the time of the awards. The trainee should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

Future Paediatric Hero

Nominations for Future Paediatrician Hero are invited for any non-paediatric doctor working on 1st tier rota at the time of the awards (this includes F2 doctors, GP trainees and junior locum colleagues). The trainee should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

Nurse of the Year

Nominations are invited for any paediatric nurse or nurse practitioner who betters paediatric care in NI by their dedication to education, innovation, quality improvement and inspiration to those around them. This person should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in Paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH & RCN

Best Educational Supervisor

Nominations for Best Educational Supervisor are invited for any Educational Supervisor within your Deanery/LETB. The supervisor should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the education of Paediatric trainees

  2. Demonstrates exemplary personal support to trainees

  3. Demonstrates innovation to teaching and education

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

SAS or Consultant Hero

Nominations for SAS and Consultant Hero are invited for any Specialty Doctor, Associate Specialist or Consultant working within paediatrics who betters paediatric care in NI by their dedication to education, innovation, quality improvement and who inspires those around them to learn. This person should fulfil the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates exemplary leadership, inspiration and motivation for their team

  2. Demonstrates excellence in their interaction with patients and their families

  3. Demonstrates innovation to teaching and education

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

Non-Clinical Hero

Nominations are invited for any colleague who’s role is within a non-clinical basis (catering, domestic, play therapy, secretarial and clerical staff to name a few) and who makes a positive impact within your department and improves the overall patient and family experience.

  1. Demonstrates excellence in the fulfilment of their work in Paediatrics

  2. Demonstrates exemplary team working and support to peers

  3. Empowers, enables and encourages colleagues through their work

  4. Embodies the values of the RCPCH

How do I nominate?

Anyone can nominate for any of the awards, and you can nominate anyone who in your eyes has made a positive contribution to paediatrics in Northern Ireland in their respective categories.

 

You can make as many nominations in as many categories as you like, or nominate only in a single category if you prefer.

What should I write?

Please see the judging criteria for each award above.

 

It is important to tell us lots of the reasons for your nomination including real-life examples in practice, as we use your words to pick a winner.

 

Winners of 3 categories (Core trainee, Speciality trainee and educational supervisor) are submitted for national consideration at RCPCH, and these awards are chosen by 12 year old children. So your nominations should ideally avoid acronyms, medical language, dark humour or traumatic descriptions!

The NI PAFTAs are delighted to have the support of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) and the Ulster Paediatric Society (UPS)

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© 2035 by NI PAFTAs. All rights reserved.

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