Social Care's got talent

The search to find the overall national winners for 2011 is almost complete. Winners of the regional awards back in the autumn of 2010 attended the judging day for the finals at the magnificent Marriott Hotel, County Hall London.  More than 100 candidates’ came and went throughout the day. Many were anxious but all excited as they arrived.   Nerves were soothed with picture postcard views of the Thames framed with the London Eye and Big Ben as they waited to be called to interview in the hotel’s old library.

Entries for last year’s 9 regional heats were invited from categories representing all areas of the social care sector throughout the country.  Winners from these regions were then invited to attend the judging day and the national finals for either the home care or care home sectors in May and June this year.  The finals take place at London’s splendid Royal Courts of Justice. Kate Garraway from TV’s Daybreak fame will host the finals of the home care awards and national treasure and I’m a Celebrity personality Christopher Biggins will host the care home finals.

Although finalists appeared to come out of their interviews smiling and relieved, one candidate did remark, “it feels like we’re about to face the judges on the Britain’s Got Talent.  I do hope they’re not as bad as Simon Cowell!’

Finalists at the judging day represented all areas of home care.  From local private domiciliary care providers, local authority adult social care departments, charities and specialist providers  – one thing they all had in common was they epitomised the nation’s unsung heroes. Without such people quality care for the vulnerable and elderly members of our community would fail.

Lisa Carr, a Director of the Great British Care Awards and one of the judges on the day said,

“We were truly heartened to see all our finalists from the regions come together today.  Having been through the rigorous nomination and judging process already we truly have the crème de la crème from the home care sector here with us today.  The awards offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the successes of individuals, teams and businesses throughout the UK - people who really do make a positive impact on people’s lives. The quality of the finalists is incredibly high which has made the judges’ task all the more difficult. It has been very humbling to meet such champions of the sector and we are looking forward to celebrating with them for what promises to be a superb awards evening. They are all winners!”

To book your table at the finals of the Great British Care Awards call 0115 959 6130 or email michelle@care-awards.co.uk or visit www.care-awards.co.uk

Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. 

Lets celebrate social care and help it get the recognition it deserves

Notes to Editor:

• The Great British Care Awards are a series of 9 regional awards that celebrate excellence across the care sector.  The purpose of the awards is to promote best practice within both home care and care homes sectors, and pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work. 
• There are a total of around eighteen awards categories available for nomination, which represent all areas of the care sector, whether it be older people or specialist services, residential or home care.  From frontline staff such as care workers and care managers to people who have made an impact in other ways such as training, specialist care and innovation.
• The awards have received support from across the social care sector, including the Adult Directors of Social Services (ADASS), Department of Health, Ceretas, the English Community Care Association (ECCA), the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Skills for Care. 
• The awards support the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund (CPBF) the registered charity for the Care Sector which supports current, former and retired care professionals, by providing assistance to relieve financial hardship or sickness.
• A list of finalists for both home care and care home finals can be found at www.care-awards.co.uk
• Dates and locations for 2011 regional awards are:

East Midlands – East Midlands Conference Centre – 7^th Oct

North West – Blackpool Tower – 8^th Oct 2011

West Midlands – ICC, Birmingham – 15^th Oct 2011

London – The Brewery – 22^nd Oct 2011

East of England – Imperial War Museum Duxford – 28^th Oct 2011

South West – Passenger Shed, Bristol – 4^th Nov 2011

Yorkshire & Humberside – National Railway Museum – 11^th Nov 2011

North East – Hilton Hotel, Gateshead – 19^th Nov 2011

South East – The Brighton Dome – 25^th Nov 2011