Saturday 11th November saw over 400 of the very best in social care attended a glittering awards ceremony at The Hilton Hotel, Brighton for the finals of the Great South East Care Awards, where the category winners were announced.

The Great South East 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.

Sector support 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 commercial organisations.

There are a total of twenty one award 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 South East Care Awards will go through to the final at Birmingham’s ICC in Spring 2018.

The winners of the Great British South East Care Awards, together with the judge’s comments are detailed below:

The Care Employer Award

Martlets Care

This social enterprise idea has been established for ten years and was set up in response to two patients in the Martlet Hospice who wanted care provided at home. They now provide true person centred care for over 90 clients and are just launching a new training centre.

The Care Home Worker Award

Gill Clements, Westholme Residential Care Home Gill is an inspirational individual who is very passionate about dignity for people she cares for. Her ability to think of little things to do to make a difference is proof that its not always about the money. A worthy winner!

The Home Care Worker Award

Adrian Towers, Alina Homecare

Adrian is a very passionate individual, genuinely wanting to make a difference for his clients. In his own words ‘being selfless is the greatest quality I have.’

The Care Newcomer Award

Jane West, Halliwell, Elizabeth Finn Homes

Jane’s desire to truly know her residents shone through. Although new to care Jane show’s empathy and warmth and promotes person centred support. An asset to the sector.

The Care Home Registered Manager Award

Shinto Vallakalahiti, Langley Haven

Shinto was clearly passionate and focused on ensuring that quality and family values are driven throughout the whole organisation. Shinto is an inspirational manager and leader. Well done Shinto.

The Home Care Registered Manager Award

Simon Rowland, Care Mark Tunbridge Wells

Simon clearly demonstrates the importance of valuing staff. Having a staff team that feel valued means clients get committed carers. He shows that it is important to be able to make a difference enabling people to stay in the community longer.

The Care Home Cook/Chef Award

Sean McClure, Cinnamon Care Collection

Sean is dedicated to his craft as a chef offering 5 star hotel grade meals with a diverse and exciting mix of foods. Sean works with families and individuals to prepare amazingly well planned nutritious menus.

The Dignity in Care Award

Liam Spinks, Venture People

Liam was the stand out nominee for dignity operating a truly inspiring outcome focused care provision meeting the needs of his clients tenfold. Liam is a truly passionate person with lots to offer this sector.

The Dementia Carer Award

Amy Giles, Care UK

A passionate individual who is making a difference every day. The judges were inspired by Amy’s understanding, compassion and creativity. Amy stated ‘My residents have allowed me to be the best carer I can be.’ – Well done Amy well deserved!

The Care Team Award

Walmer Care Centre Team

The Walmer Care Team demonstrated a true commitment to share good practice and to integrate their community. They go above and beyond to create a stimulating, innovative environment for their residents. They have exciting visions for their home and excellent plants to achieve these.

The Care Home Activities Co-ordinator Award

Katie Simmonds, Nicholas James Care Homes

Katie is an inspiration, she is driven, enthusiastic, full of energy and spoke with real passion about her role. The work she undertakes truly empowers the people she supports.

The Ancillary Worker Award

Rita Kirby, Barchester Healthcare

Rita’s passion and enthusiasm shone through. ‘It’s not for me it’s for them’ and ‘my residents’ were consistent themes. There is no doubt that Rita really does put a smile on their faces.

The Care Trainer Award

Gemme Tonkinsmith, Hilton Nursing Partners Gemme is a passionate and enthusiastic care trainer. She believes the most important word in the company’s title is ‘partners’. Learning, development and employee engagement is all about partnership working.

The Care Innovator Award

Ami Penfold, Acorn Court Care Home

Ami is a real champion of an intergenerational approach and is a great example of the impact children can make to older people. She herself stated ‘Just because they are in a care home life does not stop.’

The Frontline Leaders Award

Abigail Draper, Nicholas James Care Homes

Abigail is an enthusiastic and passionate individual. She is a driven and energetic young lady who doesn’t take no for an answer. The people she works with inspire her to strive forwards, always looking for ways to improve quality of life.

The Home Care Co-ordinator Award

Mark Butler, Autumn Years Care

Mark is passionate about ensuring quality care is delivered to clients. Care that is person centred and delivered by committed, qualified staff. He is also credible in the use of developing technology to help improve the service.

 The Care Assessor/Care Planner Award

Hannah Kessock-Philip, Venture-People

Hannah is enthusiastic and passionate about the services she provides. She stated ‘I work with people not for them’, an attitude which is very much credible. Well done Hannah much deserved!

The Putting People First/Personalisation Award

Bridge House Care Home

This team enables genuine person centred care. They allow residents to live life to the full and get the balance right between risk and choice.  A dedicated, person centred team of care professionals.

The Good Nurse Award

Emily Carey, Elizabeth Finn Homes

We need more people like Emily who have progressed through nursing education and seen the adult social care sector as their place to grow and use their skills. Emily has a proven desire to care and improve care through outcomes for individuals.

The Palliative Care/End of Life Award

The Haddons Staff Team, MacIntyre

Hearing Sarah share Alison’s story is one which makes you feel inspired and grateful for people like her in the world. The determination, passion and commitment to keeping Alison at home was truly inspirational.

The Unpaid Carers Award

Veronica Cole

Veronica comes to visit her husband on a daily basis.  Whilst she is here she not only helps her husband but is very caring to the other service users in the lounge with them.  She is willing to help with feeding where applicable and sits and talks to the service users who do not have any visitors.  She does this out of the kindness of her heart and is an asset to our care home.

The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Award

Carole Hunt, Cinnamon Care Collection

In the words of a staff member:  Carole is passionate about high quality care and achieves this through her amazing people management skills.  Her ethos is to look after her staff, they will look after the residents and in turn you have a successful business.

Carole has developed many individuals within the sector and enabled them to deliver truly amazing care leading from the front with a heart; which is what the care sector is all about. In addition to this, Carole has been instrumental in leading and developing first class buildings to become happy and vibrant homes for residents. There’s a long list of her achievements and I feel that her contribution to the care sector should be recognised!

 

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