Tag: social care

Caring Gina is as good as gold

A care worker who leads by example has captured a prestigious gold award.

Gina Ashby from Guilsfield was among the top prizewinners at this year’s Wales Care Awards, known as the social care Oscars. The ceremony took place at City Hall, Cardiff, and the MC for the evening was opera singer Wynne Evans, also known as Compario from the TV adverts for Go Compare.

The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales to recognise good practice in the care sector and Gina, who is a care assistant at the Rhallt Care Home in Welshpool, won gold in the category for Residential Care Practitioner. (more…)

Man of steel Gareth has heart of gold

A former steelworker who has had major heart surgery can now be said to have a heart of gold.

For Gareth Watkins was among those honoured in this year’s Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales to recognise exceptional practice in the sector.

At a ceremony in City Hall, Cardiff, Gareth, from Pontypool, received a gold award in the category for Practitioner.

After leaving school he became an apprentice in the steel industry and went on to become a supervisor and section manager. He spent a total of 38 years in the industry, much of it in Llanwern. (more…)

Silver award for mum with heart of gold

A mum of two with a heart of gold now also has a touch of silver. Emma Ogden came away from a glittering ceremony at City Hall, Cardiff, with one of the major awards in this year’s Wales Care Awards, known as the social care Oscars.

The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales to highlight and reward exceptional practice in the care sector and Emma was shortlisted in the category for Supported Living or Small Group Community Living Care Practitioner. Her CV, which highlighted her diligence and compassion, so impressed the judges that she was presented with a silver award. (more…)

Caring Chris who battled dyslexia takes silver at national awards

A care worker who refused to let dyslexia hold him back is celebrating winning a coveted industry award. Chris Gregory, who was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 12, scooped silver in the Commitment to Quality in Hospitality and Housekeeping award, sponsored by A Baldwins & Company, at the Wales Care Awards 2016.

Colleagues say Chris has transformed the lives of the residents living at Llanerchrugog Hall in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wrexham, where he has worked for the past 13 years.

The 36-year-old, who originally started his care career as a support worker and has worked his way up to the post of assistant manager of premises five years ago, collected his prestigious gong at a glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday 21 October. (more…)

Carer who came back out of retirement to do job she loves strikes silver in major national awards

A highly experienced carer who loves her job so much that she came out of retirement to look after vulnerable adults has struck silver in major national awards.

Celia Callaghan had only been at home for two weeks when she realised she missed the life so much she had to return to work. And at the age of 61 she became a support and rehabilitation practitioner at a residential care home run by Integra Community Living Options in Rhonda Cynon Taf.

Away from work Celia, who lives at Gilfach Goch near Tonyrefail, also finds time to help care for her daughter who suffers from mental health problems and her grand-daughter who has a physical disablility. (more…)

Baker Catrin rises to the challenge to win award

A keen baker who brings Masterchef competitions to a Swansea care home has picked up a top prize. Catrin Hooper reignited her own love of baking when she made a Swansea City Football Club cake for one of the residents at Sudbury House, in Ynystawe.

She recently held a successful cookery competition for the residents there which culminated in a shared feast featuring everything from a simple trifle to a complex chicken dish. After “hot” competition from across the country, she can now savour receiving the bronze award for leadership and management in supported living at the Wales Care Awards. (more…)

Brave Carolyn wins national award

A Rhiwbina woman who took a chance when she spotted a job advert has reaped the benefit by receiving a prestigious award.

Brave mum Carolyn Hall who has battled against Crohn’s Disease was among those honoured at a ceremony at City Hall, Cardiff, the MC for which was opera singer Wynne Evans, aka as Gio Compario from the TV adverts for Go Compare

She was among the winners at this year’s Wales Care Awards organised by Care Forum Wales to recognise good practice in the sector.

The 48-year-old mother of one received a bronze award in the category for Supported Living or Small Group Community Living Practitioner. (more…)

Care home manager with X-Factor celebrates awards double

A highly experienced care home manager with the X-Factor has had a double success in major national awards.

Angela Rees, who lives in Bridgend, is in charge of the Ty Newydd care home in Roath, Cardiff, which cares for a small number of women aged 18 to 65 with mental health issues, and is known as an effective leader who is keen for her staff to progress so they can maximise the help they give to clients.

It is this dedication to her job which saw Angela honoured twice at the 2016 Wales Care Awards held to recognise people who have the X-Factor in social care. (more…)

Pioneering manager takes double honours at social care Oscars

A pioneering care manager is celebrating an awards double. Andrew Guy, 42, has played a major role in developing a new approach to providing people in Caernarfon with learning disabilities with more fulfilling lives.

It is his dedicated approach to his caring that first saw him strike silver in the Excellence in Learning Disability and Mental Health category, sponsored by Carewatch/Pineshield, in the 2016 Wales Care Awards, known as the social care Oscars, at City Hall in Cardiff,

He then went on to win a coveted Dignity in Care Award, sponsored by the Welsh Government, a special honour presented to a person who has demonstrated compassion and real understanding for the needs of others. (more…)

Former labourer who built himself a solid career in caring strikes gold

A man who decided on a career in caring after visiting a residential home to do some building work and eventually rose to become its manager has struck gold in major national awards.

Andrew Papirnyk, who lives in Tywyn, Gwynedd, went along to Cerrig Camu in Dolgellau in the winter of 2004 to do some labouring work for the firm he was with at the time. He quickly built up a rapport with some of its residents and immediately opted to make caring his profession.

Nine years later he was appointed as the home’s registered manager and has been commended for the way he runs it and credited for helping to integrate clients with learning disabilities and mental health needs into the community. (more…)