Guidance for Organisers
QNIS recognises the importance of prioritising taking time out to celebrate the service and commitment of community nursing staff who meet the needs of the people of Scotland day after day, year after year. We are committed to supporting employers to celebrate the long service of their staff by offering an award pack (badge and certificate in a presentation folder) and guidance for organising an event. In addition, if we have sufficient notice, we will endeavour to send a QNIS representative to the event to speak about the awards, and to add our recognition and appreciation for those receiving awards.
QNIS Community Nursing Awards for Long Service are for registered nursing staff who have a total of 21 years of service in a community setting, including those who are community nursing educators and managers.
These awards are offered to nursing and midwifery staff employed by NHS Health Boards or any other organisation employing registered nurses and are to be presented at locally organised events. We are able to accommodate one event per Health Board/employer in a 12-month period.
Please note that we no longer accept applications for individual awards.
How to arrange an event
If you are thinking about organising a Long Service Event, please contact office@qnis.org.uk. You will need to have an idea of numbers and possible dates that you would like to hold the event. QNIS requires 8 weeks’ notice for events. This will allow time for emails to circulate around those who might be eligible and for gathering the required information to complete the form. QNIS will provide an application form which employers will be asked to complete in full and return. Please see the template included on how to fill out the form. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all applicants have at least 21 years of service as a community nurse. Hospital roles are not taken into account in number of years’ service.
The form should be returned to QNIS no later than 6 weeks before the agreed event date for large events, and 4 weeks for smaller events (under 50 awardees).
QNIS will provide the certificates and awards, and if attending, a representative from QNIS will present the awards and say a few words. We can also bring literature, tablecloths and banners.
Sadly, because of the current financial pressures which also affect us as a charity, QNIS is no longer able to provide financial support towards events.
The Event
The design of the event is entirely up to you. Here are some things you may wish to consider:
- Using the event as an opportunity to showcase projects and innovation
- Creating your own awards for support staff who have also worked for 21 years or more
- Inviting friends and family
- Inviting contemporary and retired Queen’s Nurses in your area
A typical awards event would be around 90 minutes:
- Welcome by Senior Nurse (10 mins)
- Speaker from QNIS (5 mins)
- Presentation of awards (if individual photos are taken as awards are made – roughly one minute per award) (30 mins based on 30/45 awards)
- Group Photo (10 mins)
- Tea/Coffee
QNIS will supply the certificates in alphabetical order of surname and a corresponding list with the job title, employer and number of years of service for each person being awarded. If someone from QNIS is attending they will bring the certificates and badges to the venue, otherwise they will be sent by post in advance.
Communications and Media
Our QNIS communications team can help your comms team to prepare a press release and will support any social media activity. It would be helpful for you to speak to your comms team in advance so that they can prepare.
If you have someone who can take photographs at the event and tweet, we would ask you to include us in any tweets @QNI_Scotland.
We would also like to be able to use any photographs taken on our website and if we take any photographs on the day will be happy to make the electronic versions available to those in the photographs or to your comms team.
