A Lochaber student, who went through the care system when she was younger, is the first ever recipient of a new integrated health and social care award.
Rita Yost, of Mallaig, completed an HNC in social care at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).
The 29-year-old was nominated for the Ina Maciver Award for her passion for social care, her practical and academic performance and her dedication to her studies.
The award, which is sponsored by NHS Highland, has been established in memory of Ina Maciver, the university’s former subject network leader for health and social care, who was passionately devoted to learning, teaching and to students’ personal development.
Ms Yost was nominated by her personal academic tutor Wilma MacDonald, who pointed out that she had travelled from Mallaig to Inverness College UHI each week to undertake her HNC.
She said: “Rita is passionate about working with young people in care as she has been through the care system herself.
“She undertook a placement in a care home for children and young people in Fort William and flourished in this environment.
“Her supervisor praised her ability to fit into the team and for developing professional relationships with young people.”
Ms Yost was presented with a Quaich and a cheque for £100 by NHS Highland’s director of public health and health policy Professor Hugo van Woerden, at Inverness College UHI’s graduation ceremony.
She said: “I was quite shocked when I found out I had won, I really wasn’t expecting it.
“Having good support from classmates and tutors and learning from their experiences and the work experience I was able to attend amplified that working in social care was what I really wanted, which gave me the drive to achieve the best I could.
“I have fulfilled my goal, as I am now a qualified, employed residential care worker thanks to the University of the Highlands and Islands.”
