Saturday 3rd November saw over 500 of the very best in social care attended a glittering awards ceremony at The Amex Stadium, 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.

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 South East Care Awards will go through to the final at Birmingham’s ICC on 8th March 2019.

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

The Care Employer Award

Abbots Care

An established company recognising the important of investing in staff and giving them the opportunity to develop and grow. Valuing and rewarding staff are strongly embedded in the organisation, ensuring staff retention. Positive feedback from clients and staff recognises the organisation is a good provider.

The Care Home Worker Award

Erica Conway, Strode Park Foundation

Erica’s passion shone through.  Her creative and proactive approach to enablement is inspirational.  For her caring is not a process but a platform to provide tools for promoting independence and outcomes.

The Home Care Worker Award                   

Maureen Moyo – Caring 4 u

Maureen is a dedicated carer who shows great humility. She has applied herself to personally learning about the person she cares for who has Huntingdons. She has come to a way of understand the person she cares for and supports “When he is troubled I walk away and come back later” “and we move on”. It was clear to see that she was proud that she could make his life better.

The Care Newcomer Award

Leah Mosely – Melrose Care Ltd

Leah’s passion for her new role really shone through. Her thirst for knowledge was highlighted through our discussion.  Leah is always looking to undertake further training. She showed a great understanding of the needs of the individuals she cares for. Leah goes out of her way to enhance the lives of others, often in her own time. 

The Care Home Registered Manager Award

Amanda Odd – Athena Healthcare Group

Amanda is a proactive ambassador for care, forging links with many different areas of the community. She provides leadership, commitment and vision to her team and residents. Amanda’s role is to enable people to live life to the full!

The Home Care Registered Manager Award

Samantha Hatcher-Swann – Blossoms Care Services

It was very clear from the start the dedication Samantha has towards her staff and clients. While wearing several hats within the business she still managers to deliver the best outcomes in every level of the care her team provides and the business itself that supports them. She really considers the bigger picture of domiciliary care in and out of work.

The Care Home Cook/Chef Award 

Daniel Otoka – Greensleeves

The judges were wowed by such an enthusiastic and passionate nominee. He enjoyed having a laugh with the residents and wanted to make meal times the best time of the day for them. He just wants to spread happiness throughout the home and thinks he has the best job!

The Dignity in Care Award

Tracey Bennett – The Orders of St John Care Trust

Tracey had no problems explaining what treating people with dignity meant. Tracey is an ambassador for dignity. She understands that no one should be judged for being different, everyone should be respected for who they are, we are all individuals. Everyone deserves a smile!

The Dementia Carer Award

Harizy Barden – Greensleeves

Harry is a passionate, kind, caring carer who quietly wowed the judges with his understand of the people he supports. A well deserved award for an inspiring young man.

The Care Home Team Award

ELS Huntercombe Group

These guys work tirelessly and with the greatest passion to ensure the people they support are living their lives to their best potential. They are a dynamic team who are passionate about what they do. Worthy winners.

The Home Care Team Award

Venture Team (People)

Overwhelmed by their passion and drive to make a difference in the difficult sector that they work in. The team demonstrated creative solutions to ensure they focus and deliver a person centred support programme.

The Care Home Activities Organiser Award

 Linda Germano – PJ Care

Linda’s enthusiasm and dedication is clear, being well organised, thorough and inclusive in her approach, she helps to ensure residents enjoy happy and engaging activities.

The Ancillary Worker Award

Race Chamberlain, Signature

Race is passionate and dedicated about supporting his residents. He sees them as an extension of his own parents and personally promises to look after each and everyone.  He has adopted a creative and proactive approach to person centred support and is so much more than a Handyman!

The Care Trainer Award

Denise Nannetti – Abbots Care Ltd

Denise has worked hard in a short time to make a real difference to the training and development of the staff she supports. She has developed bespoke training whilst ensuring staff gain recognised qualifications across all levels. It was evident she really values the staff that she supports.

The Care Innovator Award

Abigail Draper – Nicholas James Care

A very inspiring innovation, enabling residents living with dementia to have a more enjoyable dinning experience. Staff have been able to experience what living with dementia is like, if the environment is not suited to them. The benefit to everyone is truly inspirational.

The Frontline Leaders Award

Alison Williams –  Egalite Care

Alison leads by example, is committed to her team and strives for them to be number one in the field.

The Home Care Co-ordinator Award

Diane Heward -Melrose Care Ltd

Diane works as the Deputy Manager for Melrose Care Ltd in addition to being a Co-ordinator for their adjoined domicillary care agency. Diane makes herself available 24/7 for her staff as she “hates to feel they didn’t have anyone to talk to”. As well as undertaking all this the care plans and implementing a new IT system Diane rolls her sleeves up to provide direct care if they are short staffed

 The Care Assessor/Care Planner Award

Marie Parkinson – Platinum Care Solutions

A new team leader, who has developed skills to motivate a team. Helping them embrace new technology to enhance practice, leading to more effective care practices ensuring that clients are having support and care they need in their own home

The Putting People First/Personalisation Award

Laurel Leaf Support

Passionate, innovative, and provides a bespoke service which makes an amazing difference to the lives of the people they support.

The Good Nurse Award

Angie Williams – The Orders of St John Care Trust

Amongst the most amazing candidates the judges found it hard to select the winner, but Angie’s dedication as an admiral nurse with her commitment to challenge and develop herself and her team to deliver an excellent service came through. A worthy winner.

The Palliative Care/End of Life Award

Acorn Court Care Home – Team

The Acorn Court Care team have a passion for end of life care with a 31 bedded high dependency unit. They believe in supporting their patients and families throughout and believe the “dark blue” (families and relatives after death) are easily forgotten. At the end of life, all patients are taken out the front door, the way they come in with staff lined up to send them off. Acorn go above and beyond to ensure patients’ wishes are met.

The Unpaid Carers Award

Brian Brockie – Volunteer at Nicholas James Care Homes

Brian Brockie’s mother is living with dementia and went to live at Dale Lodge 3 years ago. Although  often struggling with his situation Brian visits the home daily. His dedication to his mother has extended to other clients and their families. He will always visit with a smile and a bag of jelly babies and is known as The Sweetie Man. Brian has been in a band for some years and often plays for the residents.  In the words of the team who nominated Brian: “This man is a true legend and puts his heart and soul into volunteering at the home and caring for his mum.”              

The Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Award

Adam Hutchison – Belmont Healthcare Group

Adam is Managing Director at Belmont Healthcare Group, Private Healthcare Entrepreneur and Charity trustee member of the Care Workers Charity. Adam works in the Private Adult Social Care sector to develop services for people in need. In addition to supporting employee engagement and dementia awareness in a truly value added sector.

 

Adam is the Author of Risk v Reward: The Employee Employer Conundrum.

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