Saturday 24th November saw over 450 of the very best in social care attended a glittering awards ceremony at The Mercure Hotel, Manchester, for the finals of the Great North West Care Awards, where the category winners were announced.
The Great North West Care Awards are part of the Great British Care Awards, a series of 9 regional awards celebrating 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.
Sponsored by Access Health and Social Care, sector support also includes Care England, The Department of Health, The National Care Forum, The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), as well as local authorities and other commercial organisations.
There are a range of categories available for nomination, which represent all areas of the care sector; whether it be older people or specialist services and from frontline staff such as care workers and care managers to people who have made an impact in other ways such as training.
Winners of the Great North West Care Awards will go through to the final at Birmingham’s ICC on 8th March 2019.
The winners of the Great British North West Care Awards, together with the judge’s comments are detailed below:
The Care Employer Award
Springhill Care Group
Springhill care group were nominated for this care employer award by their staff for their excellent opportunities in career progression and staff recognition. They not only develop their own business but are also pioneers for sector growth as a whole. They have a firm belief that shared values can be instilled within the fabric of their business. This is reflected in the staff, both in their approach to the short term day to day role and their career in the sector, helping sculpt the future of health care.
The Care Home Worker Award
Kelly Anne Livingstone – Barchester
Kelly clearly demonstrated that she shows initiative, is thorough and that residents and families can rely on her! Kelly loves listening to the residents stories, always offers choice and makes sure she gives care in the way her residents want. Kelly makes a difference to peoples lives.
The Home Care Worker Award
Ronan Marsland – Affinity Care
Ronan shows compassion within his role. He goes beyond his care of duty, which shines within him. He is an inspiration to the care sector.
The Care Home Newcomer Award
Katie Davock – Anchor
An exceptional care professional – committed to providing person centred care to enable independence and wellbeing.
The Home Care Newcomer Award
Viki Tarbuck – CIC , Elliott Gardens
Full understanding of the word Care. She knew what was necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance and protection of someone. Excellent people skills with empathy for others. Good understanding of her role and was aware of the choices the person may want. Viki had a willingness to and determination to take up new opportunities to improve her knowledge regarding her personal development.
The Care Home Registered Manager Award
Julie Hoszowskyj – Mary and Joseph House
Julie was very passionate and dedicated to her role. She leads by example and is committed to sharing the best practise with her staff, as well as other managers in the community. Her extensive knowledge of the care industry is also demonstrated by the ratings of outstanding at her last CQC inspection and the training and development of her staff.
The Home Care Registered Manager Award
Leanne Scrogham – Human Support Group
Leanne shone in describing the rise from the ashes of a failing business twice to where it is now as outstanding. It was evident how passionate she was about her service users and staff – it was a long and bumpy road for her and the team, but they never gave up! A credit to them all and to Leanne for owning her role.
The Care Home Cook/Chef Award
Richard Daibell – Porthaven Care Home
Richard provides a worthwhile mealtime experience with a wide and varied menu, covering special menus to meet individual, diverse and cultural needs, enhancing their quality of life. He maintains good standards of hygiene and environmental health, highlighting all areas of risk – food temps, working with vulnerable people, highlighting risks to choking and allergies.
The Dignity in Care Award
Gina Parkins – Rosebank Care Home
Gina evidenced that she applies dignity throughout her job role and had a good understanding of dignity and how to maintain and achieve within her role. Goes that step further even if it is in her own time.
The Dementia Carer Award
Donna Greenhalgh – Springhill Care
Donna is an inspirational individual who stood out amongst a fantastic group of candidates due to her selfless approach to dementia care, which we felt defines her as a person and carer. Congratulations Donna!
The Care Home Team Award
Beeston Residential imap Centre
This team has provided 2 community houses in the same road for severely autistic teenagers. There was no other provision for this which would have left resident with no care setting to live at. A dedicated team well led and enthusiastic. They are a second family to each other and the residents. An impressive team with an excellent relationship to service users, relatives and each other.
The Home Care Team Award
Ben Selby – Right at Home South Cheshire
Inspirational story of establishing a successful domiciliary care team within 18 months. Already achieving excellent feedback and standards, whilst also displaying warmth and compassion, with impressive community engagement.
The Care Home Activities Organiser Award
Nickie Brookes and Gaynor Hall – Lavender Mills Care Home
Together Nickie and Gaynor evidenced an amazing passion in making a difference for their ‘grand-friends’ and have implemented so much in such a short time.
The Ancillary Worker Award
Jeanette Swinhoe – Danshell Healthcare
Jeanette was person centred and talk eloquently about her high standards in domestic and ancillary duties whilst involving residents and promoting life skills and independence. Jeanette was a true inspiration and genuine unsung hero of social care describing herself as just a cleaner but in reality demonstrating the very best in social care.
The Care Trainer Award
Maxine Shacklady – Bridgewater Home Care
Maxine shows compassion and delivers her training sessions with a person centred care approach, she is very open minded and is a peoples’ person, who is always there for her learners who may need more of her assistant and feel reassured about the understanding of the training session and helps deliver quality of life and good practice within the company.
The Care Innovator Award
Henry Mooney – Everton in the Community
After recognising that the organisation were not engaging with older people in the community, the idea to set up ‘pass on the memories’ was born. This was set up to provide support and respite for a vulnerable section of society and those who sacrifice so much to care for them. By drawing on evocative memories and tapping in to local history, a much needed service was provided to help both those suffering with dementia and those providing care.
The Care Home Frontline Leaders Award
Charlotte Edwards – Consensus Supported Services Ltd
Charlotte came across as innovative, creative, resilient and robust having to step up into a role with challenges. Responsive to changes in needs, recognising shortfalls and being adaptive to improve. Able to empower staff to step up out of their comfort zones and take leads on projects.
The Home Care Frontline Leaders Award
Gemma Corrigan, Future Directions CIC
Gemma is passionate about supporting people in a person centred care in a supported living environment. Passionate about enabling independence, dignity and choices in order for the people she supports to lead full and meaningful lives.
The Home Care Co-ordinator Award
Michelle Brierley – Future Directions CIC
Michelle is an inspirational health care coordinator, who is both efficient and professional ensuring all service users receive the support they want.
The Care Assessor/Care Planner Award
Brian McNaught – Anchor
Brian was extremely comprehensive, not just in his answers but also provided detailed examples of great culture and champions of choice for vulnerable people, in end of life situations. He promoted a person centred approach throughout all processes.
The Putting People First/Personalisation Award
Charlotte Baines – Home Instead Senior Care
Charlotte is passionate and very proud of being in the role she has chosen and was shocked that she had been nominated. She has never done care before joining this company but thoroughly enjoys it meeting and listening to clients’ needs and ensuring she matches up the right staff to support them as they want.
The Good Nurse Award
Suzi Corbett – Athena Health Care Group
Suzie demonstrated exceptional passion and commitment to her role. She evidenced going above and beyond for the people she cares for. She demonstrated enthusiasm to continue to develop her skills and expertise, and to show best practise with her colleagues to provide person centred care for people living with dementia.
The Palliative Care/End of Life Award
Karan Shingler – Belong Morris Feinmann
Karan demonstrated motivation and a passion for delivering excellent end of life care, backed by values, standards and clear direction that promotes quality palliative care and a dignified end of life. Karan has implemented initiatives that are embedded holistically. In Karan’s words it’s a pleasure to get up and go to work.
The Housing with Care Award
Andrea Lyon – Community Integrated Care
Andrea was able to articulate with passion and commitment how person centred care is delivered. She provides individuals who are living full lives with dignity, choice and respect. Using up to date technology, ‘Alexa’ prompting fluid intake. As she quoted clients can dip in and out of care support when needed, empowering future independence.
The Unpaid Carers Award
Jack Cockwill, Volunteer Carer & Maintenance, Rosebank Care Home
In the words of the person who nominated Jack:
Jack Cockwill has Asperger’s and has been in and out of care from an early age. At the age of 15 he was made homeless and spent several months sleeping rough.
With an undiagnosed condition and deteriorating mental condition he attempted to take his own life. Jack was set to be another terrible statistic. He then walked past Rosebank Care Home and Gillian Young the Registered Manager seeing Jack invited him in.
Jack is now the most fabulous volunteer carer. His life has changed around. He has place to live and on his days off he is a volunteer youth worker at several local churches helping set up the PA and lighting systems.
Jack is one of life’s volunteers who provide so much love and assistance to people in need. I can think of no better person to win this amazing award and would recognise that behind every fabulous home there is an unseen volunteer army of Jacks. Jack we sincerely thank you for what you do!
The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Award
Jonathan Cunningham – Birkdale Park Nursing Home
Jonathan Cunningham is the registered care manager at Birkdale Park Nursing Home. As an ex Army Major he decided that his calling was into the world of social care. He made the challenging transition from leading men in battle to forming outstanding care teams.
Jonathan’s passion is people with a mantra of ‘Rounds pegs into round holes’. He recognised that to get the very best out of people you must work to their strengths not weaknesses. Jonathan is a natural team creator.
In 2016 Jonathan used his ex-military skills to embark on his most daring of missions ‘to establish the first care home in Sefton graded OUTSTANDING’ In December 2016 after 2 years he helped achieve the unbelievable; Rosebank Care Home was graded OUTSTANDING!
Jonathan then took over as the Registered Care Manager a failing home – Birkdale Park Nursing Home. The home was in desperate need and was graded Requires Improvement. Jonathan used all his military skills and natural team building and in June 2018 the home was graded GOOD.
CQC commented they had never seen a care home with its own ‘rickshaw’! Jonathan pedals his residents everyday to live life to the full!
Jonathan is now asked to speak across the UK on the power of networks in social care and how to inspire a care workforce. He remains the Registered Care Manager at Birkdale Park but his love for sharing ideas and the widespread impact across the sector make him a super winner for this outstanding award.
For more information on The Great British Care Awards please visit our web site at www.care-awards.co.uk
Lets celebrate social care and help it get the recognition it deserves