South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 24/03/2016

Judging for South Gloucestershire Council’s Care and Support Awards has taken place, with winners and finalists celebrated at an awards event yesterday (Wednesday 23 March).

These awards recognise the dedication and contribution of local care and support workers who have gone the extra mile in providing high quality care to enable people to lead the lives they want to live.

Our Care and Support Awards replace the Home Carer of the Year award and are open to a broader audience with nominations accepted from across the care sector. This year we have extended the categories to include: Personal Assistant of the Year, Care Home Worker of the Year, Home Care or Supported Living Worker of the Year and Day Services Worker of the Year.

The winner of the Home Care or Supported Living Worker of the Year Award is Lauren Herbert from Elite Home Care Ltd.
Lauren received two nominations, each reflecting Lauren’s attention to detail and commitment to going the extra mile. Nominator Mrs Hazel Wheeler said: “She is an efficient carer but in addition gives the extra attention which instills confidence and security – the little hug, the encouraging word which brings a smile and response. This is vitally important as it helps a lapsing short term memory.”

The winner of the Care Home Worker of the Year Award is Gabrielle Sheard who works for AbleCare Homes.
Gabrielle received four nominations, each recognising Gabrielle’s caring nature, empathy and ability to provide emotional support for residents. Nominator Shirley Hiscox said: “She sits and listens to me. She really cares for the other residents. When I lost my husband she supported me and was always comforting me when I got upset she sat and listened to me.”

The winner of the Personal Assistant of the Year Award is Natalie Churchill.
Natalie was nominated by Maria Flook who said: “She looks after every aspect of my life, socially, medically and mentally, without her I would just be a bag of bones tucked away in the corner somewhere. Whereas now she enables me to do everything and anything. She doesn’t see my MS but me as a person and treats me with the utmost love. She has taken me under her wing and made me part of her family. She’s not just my carer she is my best friend and my rock.”

The winner of the Day Services Worker of the Year is Winnie Thompson who works at Kilcott Farm.
Nominator Reuben Fletcher said: “She makes me feel very safe and secure. She works alongside my mum and does everything for me the same as my mum does. When I stay at respite with her sometimes, she makes the room I stay in like home – soft lighting, my own duvet cover and music playing.”

Chair of South Gloucestershire Council Cllr Erica Williams said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be part of this wonderful ceremony. We are very lucky to have so many compassionate care and support workers in South Gloucestershire who really do go that extra mile. All of these care and support workers have been nominated by the people receiving their services, or by carers of people receiving services – and this is what makes these awards so very special.”

Adults, Housing and Public Health Committee Chair Cllr Ben Stokes said: “We have some incredible people providing care and support in South Gloucestershire and these awards provide us with a way to make sure they get the appreciation they deserve. It is a way in which people using services, their carers and the council can recognise the wonderful work that care and support workers do on a daily basis, and to stress the huge difference this can make to the lives of the people receiving support. Each of these awards recognises the importance of providing high quality support.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Resound Centre in Mangotsfield. This is the fifth time we have held an award ceremony for home care workers in South Gloucestershire, with the first award ceremony held in March 2009.

The full list of shortlisted workers includes:
Dawn Cole – Allied Healthcare
Kelly Evans – Stepping stones to independence
Lauren Herbert – Elite Home Care Ltd
Maxine Smith – Agincare UK Ltd
Tracey Johnson – Homecare4u
Angela Daniell – Care Futures
Gabrielle Sheard – AbleCare Homes
Pat Coleman – Warmley House
Joanna Wright – Organic Blooms
Matt Grinter – South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Winnie Thompson – Kilcott Farm
Lewis Cooksley (personal assistant)
Maria Bowyer (personal assistant)
Natalie Churchill (personal assistant).

Cllr Erica Williams with the award winners and shortlisted workers.