This year's Guardian Public Services Awards were celebrated at the Foreign Commonwealth Office in Whitehall. For nine years, Hays has supported these prestigious national awards, which showcase innovation and best practice taking place within the sector.
Each category had strong entrants, giving the judges a difficult job of deciding the winners, who are as follows.
- The City of York was named overall winner for its use of technology to engage local people, their multimedia platform "GeniUS! York" has helped transform the way in which York Council engages with residents, businesses and community groups.
- Cindy Hunt was honoured as Society Guardian public servant of the year after topping The Guardian's readers' poll. Cindy is a school-support youth worker who has spent 14 years helping transform the lives of disadvantaged children.
- Public leader of the year winner was awarded to Derrick Anderson, whose leadership has revitilised Lambeth council.
- The communications project award was won by Glasgow City Council and their innovative campaign to help young people find foster carers and adoptive parents.
- The Department of Health won the award for financial initiative with the oxygen delivery project, which saved over £35m and improved services to over 90,000 NHS patients.
- The digital innovation award was presented to Hertfordshire Probation Trust for the GPS ankle tag which has seen a 41% drop in offending rates of the most prolific criminals.
- North Lanarkshire Council won the partnership working award for their pioneering community-based scheme for combatting suicide rates.
- The evidence-based policymaking award was won by The Sentencing Council for the new guidelines they introduced to offer clarity to judges when jailing offenders.
For more information on each of the winners and the categories please click here to visit The Guardian website.