John Leslie Townend, Communication Support Worker for Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been awarded an MBE for services to Deaf people in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2011.
Les (as he is known) is profoundly deaf. He works in The National High Secure Deaf Service (NHSDS) based at Rampton Hospital and has been part of the specialist team for eight years.
In his role as Support Worker, Les works to facilitate communication between deaf patients and hearing staff by effectively translating the signs of the deaf patient into BSL/English. He also works with hearing staff to transform written and promotional materials into visual materials.
Les said: “I am really shocked to receive this award. I just can’t believe it. When I received the letter my wife and I struggled to understand what it all meant at first as English isn’t our first language (British Sign Language is). Once it became clear, I was of course really pleased and happy to accept the invitation to meet the Queen. I really feel quite emotional about the whole thing.”
Les is proud to be Deaf and works hard to promote a positive image of the Deaf Community at Rampton Hospital, including teaching Deaf Awareness to all members of staff throughout Rampton Hospital. He is a role model for the Trust due to the respect he shows to all service users, carers, and staff regardless of their background.
Professor Mike Cooke CBE, Chief Executive said: “I am delighted for Les. He truly deserves this recognition for his hard work and dedication to our deaf patients and positive promotion of the Deaf Community. He is an asset to the Trust. Many congratulations.”
Prior to his employment at Rampton, Les worked for ten years in Leeds as a Deaf Instructor in mainstream schools, working with families and children aged 0-16 years. He then moved to the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby where he worked for ten years in varying roles including an assistant instructor supporting pupils in maths and science lessons, sports coaching and in the residential part of the school as a house-father.
Les, who comes from Hucknall, is currently the Treasurer for the Nottingham Deaf Community Club; a post he has held for the last three years.
The NHSDS aims to provide a national high secure service to deaf male patients and their families on an equal basis to the services that hearing patients and their families can expect.
The service recognises and values the use of British Sign Language (BSL) and other forms of communication methods used by deaf people and acknowledges the importance and existence of deaf culture.
