Glittering night for stars of social care

It was a night when the stars of social care shone brightly. The unsung heroes and heroines of the sector were recognised for their skill and dedication at the 14th annual Wales Care Awards.

The glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff was hosted by the larger than life Radio Wales presenter and opera singer Wynne Evans, perhaps better known as the moustachioed Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV  ads.

The Craig Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award went to Rhian Huws Williams, an “inspirational figure” to social care in Wales, for her many years of dedicated service..
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Julie is just champion after winning social care Oscar

An Aberdare care home deputy manager described as ‘a real champion’ by her bosses has been rewarded with a gleaming silver accolade for her years of dedication to her patients.

Zowie Evans was presented with the top honour at the 2016 Wales Care Awards held at Cardiff City Hall, where she had been nominated in the category for Excellence in Dementia Care.

The awards, run each year by Care Forum Wales, are considered the health care Oscars as they honour men and women delivering the highest standards of professionalism in their field. (more…)

Housekeeper with ‘five-star standards’ wins top care industry gong

A former potter turned housekeeping manager who prides himself on his five-star hotel standards has won a coveted care award.

Wayne Skinner, who is in charge of housekeeping at both Capel Grange Nursing Home in Newport and Penylan House and Cardiff, embarked on a career in care two years ago when his elderly grandmother, Beatrice Greenaway, lost her battle with dementia.

The 42-year-old, who had spent 16 years as a hospitality manager in luxurious five star hotels in Cardiff, wanted to deliver the best possible living environment for older people like his grandmother, who were living in nursing homes.

His sterling efforts have now been recognised across Wales after he won a bronze award in the Commitment to Quality in Housekeeping category in the Wales Care Awards 2016, run by Care Forum Wales. (more…)

Charity boss Tracy honoured at social care Oscars

A charity boss has received one of the highest possible honours at the social care Oscars.

Tracy Peers, the head of operations at St Asaph-based Cartref Ni Ltd, which supports 35 adults in Denbighshire, Conwy and Flintshire, won the coveted Spirit of Care Award at the Wales Care Awards.

Tracey, who has been the company for 21 years, also won a silver award for Leadership and Management in Support Living at the ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff.

Mother of two Tracy, 47, who lives in Prestatyn, has worked in the social care sector for 30 years.

According to Tracy, she is in a privileged position to help in providing a “person-centred approach” to assist people to lead independent lives, whatever challenges they face. (more…)

New dad Stephen scoops gold in social care industry ‘Oscars’

A new dad who works “round the clock” for the benefit of the elderly residents where he works is celebrating national awards glory.

Stephen Ivins, a maintenance and health and safety officer at The Romilly Nursing Home in Pontcanna, Cardiff, scooped a coveted gold award in the Social Care Health and Safety Award category in the Wales Care Awards 2016.

The 42-year-old, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, received his trophy at a glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff.

The prestigious national awards, run by Care Forum Wales, acknowledge the hard work and exceptional performances of those in the care sector and are widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the care industry. (more…)

“One in a million” nurse Sreeja hits gold standard in social care Oscars

A nurse described as “one in a million” by a colleague has now reached the gold standard in major national awards.

Sreeja Ranjith, 36, who lives in Pentrebach, Methyr Tydfil and has been one of the team at the Greenhill Manor Care Home in Methyr for the past eight years, often spends time on her days off taking residents out for meals or on shopping trips and also brings in her young son to cheer them up.

It is this dedicated approach to her caring role that saw Sreeja take gold in the Nurse of the Year category, sponsored by Ontex UK, of the 2016 Wales Care Awards, known as the social care Oscars.

The awards, now in their 14th year, are in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most. (more…)

Care home lead nurse who loves to work with older people honoured in major national awards

A care home lead nurse who loves to work with elderly people because of the rich memories they can share has been honoured in major national awards.

Sharon White, 53, who lives in Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd, is one of the longest serving staff members at The Hollies Care Home in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff which is owned by the Welsh private care home group, SilverCrest.

According to Silvercrest, Sharon is highly respected by residents and colleagues alike for her wealth of experience and strong leadership qualities.

Over the past few years she has been working to ensure the success of special activities to help residents with dementia, including personalised information sheets for each bedroom door to enable them to more easily navigate their way through the home’s corridors. (more…)

Care home manager Sarah is as good as gold

A highly-regarded care home manager’s dedication has been recognised with a gold award.

Sarah McCowan, 40, who runs the Hillside residential home in Pontypridd  which caters for adults with mental health problems, was honoured at the prestigious Wales Care Awards..

She was a finalist at the annual Wales Care Awards at Cardiff City Hall, organised by Care Forum Wales, where she came up trumps in the category for Promoting Fulfilled Lives was sponsored by Boots.

Sarah has been involved in the social care sector since the age of 17, and with her sister had previously owned and run a private residential home for adults with learning difficulties and autism. She shadowed another home manager for three months before taking up her present position with Ucan Care Ltd in May 2014. (more…)

Ruthmar wins award for her silver service

A care worker who travelled halfway around the world to take a job in North Wales has been honoured  at the social care Oscars.

Ruthmar Gaitana, who arrived in Wrexham via Saudi Arabia, received a silver award at this year’s Wales Care Awards prize giving at City Hall in Cardiff.

MC for the evening was opera singer and radio presenter Wynne Evans, also known as Gio Compario from the TV adverts for Go Compare.

The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales to recognise exceptional practice in the sector, and Ruthmar, a senior care practitioner at Highfield care home, was shortlisted in the category for Residential Care Practitioner, sponsored by the Older People’s Commissioner. (more…)

Singing carer Rob hits high note at awards

A singing care worker’s night in the limelight at the sector’s “Oscars” ended on a high note – after he won a top prize.

Rob Thomas, 31, from Bridgend, had his musical theatre dream dashed by major brain surgery at the age of 18 but he still goes out of his way to bring a smile to the residents of Picton Court, at Nottage, near Porthcawl,

His job as the activities organiser at the home, which provides residential, nursing and dementia care, is to brighten the lives of the 76 residents aged 60 to 103, by arranging activities and entertainment.

But recently Rob let someone else do the organising when he was nominated for a prestigious Wales Care Award. A glittering presentation evening at Cardiff City Hall saw him rewarded for his hard work and enthusiasm with a silver Promoting Fulfilled Lives Award, sponsored by Boots. (more…)