A woman who helped launched a pioneering scheme in South East Wales to support people suffering a mental health crisis is in the running for a top award.

Emma Jenkins, a Mental Health Crisis Manager for the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme hosted by Caerphilly County Borough Council, has been shortlisted for one of this year’s Wales Care Awards.

The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales to reward outstanding work in the care sector and this year’s ceremony will be held at the Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on October 18. Sponsored by Ontex Healthcare, it will be hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.

Shared Lives, a collaborative project funded in partnership with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, was launched in 2019 and is the only one of its kind in Wales.

It is based on evidence that individuals experiencing a mental health crisis recover better if they feel part of the community and within a supportive family setting. It also means that some people can be discharged sooner from hospital.

Emma, 44, from Bargoed, was nominated by the scheme’s manager Rosemary Brown and has been shortlisted in the category for Leadership and Management in Supported Living, which is sponsored by Cartref Ni and Hoop Recruitment.

After gaining a degree in law and being involved in safeguarding matters within the justice system Emma switched to the social care sector and, after months of planning and discussions, was responsible for the launch of the South East Wales Shared Lives Scheme.

Rosemary said Emma had grown and developed along with the scheme and was a natural leader.

“Emma is worthy of this prestigious award due to her compassion and ability to think creatively in order to deliver an outstanding service,” said Rosemary.

“Emma creates opportunities by getting the right people around the table and being open to other professional cultures in order to develop a culture of sharing ideas and using active listening and reflective practice in order to deploy innovations with the people that will use them.”

Emma is passionate about developing the service and regularly gives presentations to other local authorities across the UK and worldwide as part of the Mental Health Nursing Organisation.

There are 300 care families currently registered with the scheme who share their homes and help those in crisis within a family setting, but demand has grown since the Covid pandemic and lockdown.

“It can be challenging at times and one has to be creative, but it is extremely rewarding and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.

She and her husband Dion are looking forward to attending the presentation evening and she says she feels “privileged” to have been nominated.

Away from work she and Dion share a variety of interests including travel – Australia and the Maldives are among the places they have ticked off – and sports, including horse-racing.

“I also love music and attending live concerts. I would have loved to go to next year’s Oasis gigs in Cardiff but missed out,” she said.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards, said: “Our aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines on the front line of social across Wales.

“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.

“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.

“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.

“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”