Care and Support West Awards champions high standards too often overlooked

Care sector professionals in the South West united last week to support quality services, via the Care and Support West (CSW) Awards.

A glittering ceremony, held at Bath Racecourse, was hosted by Watchdog presenter and bowel cancer survivor Lynn Faulds-Wood, seeing the event go from strength-to-strength in its third year of congratulating individuals who have gone the extra mile.

Faulds-Wood was delighted to see care professionals held under a positive spotlight, saying: “When I was on BBC Watchdog, we heard complaints about poor care, not good news stories about the wonderful people who support and care for the most vulnerable in our society.

“Last Saturday night (June 6) was a great event, celebrating the warm, inspiring managers and staff we are lucky to have in our lives. An uplifting evening recognising the work of great people.”

Chief executive David Smallacombe echoed this sentiment, saying, “The Care and Support West Awards are enormously well received. In an environment of negative press, rising standards and an ageing population, pressure on the care industry has never been higher. It can be all too easy to overlook the brilliant, heartfelt work that goes on day in, day out across the region.

“We established these awards to acknowledge the great work that is being done to maintain tremendously high standards with integrity and compassion.”

The night’s winners were as follows: Best Care Home Registered Manager – Teresa Silverthorne, AbleCare; Best Care Home Front Line Worker – Joanne King, Windmill Care; Best Team in any care setting – Generic & Homeless Floating Support Team, Alliance Care; Best Home Care Registered Manager – Murie England, Stepping Stones; Best Home Care Front Line Worker – Sally Stamp, Elite Care; Best Day Services Front Line Workers – Christine Hall and Liz Gray, Milestones Trust; Best Supported Living Front Line Worker – Jane Smart, Manor Community; Best Ancillary Support Worker – Deb Hicks, Windmill Care; Outstanding Contribution to Care – Matt Nines, Homes Caring for Autism.

Winner Murie England commented: “I’ve never felt so much pride; reading what had been said about me by my colleagues gave me a feeling of humility. I am still pinching myself. I have a brilliant team who all pull together and support each other in good and bad times, without whom I would not be able to do my job.

“Domiciliary care receives a lot of negative press however there are a lot of excellent companies striving to provide the best possible care. The awards ceremony was a fantastic way to highlight the excellent service being provided within the community.”

Image credit Red Rabbit Photography.