Two home care chiefs recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours list

A managing director of Penrose Care who "fought hard for improving working conditions" in social care and a franchise owner of Home Instead, Durham who struggled to find “quality care” for her own mother have been honoured in the 2022 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Birthday Honours.

Penrose Care managing director, Robert Stephenson-Padron, has been awarded an OBE for services to social care.

Mr Stephenson-Padron said: “I am immensely honoured and humbled to receive an OBE from Her Majesty the Queen on her Platinum Jubilee. I have dedicated my life to serving others, especially in improving the lives of ordinary working people, most notably, social care workers.

“Day in and day out, I work with heroes at Penrose Care Ltd. I have fought hard for improving working conditions for these heroic social care workers and I will continue to do so.”

In 2012, he began his campaign to spread the Living Wage movement within social care when there were only four home care providers in the UK that were Accredited Living Wage Employers. Today there are over 240 social care organisations that are Accredited Living Wage Employers.

Then in 2014, Mr Stephenson-Padron successfully lobbied for the National Audit Office (NAO) to pressure the HMRC to materially enhance enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) in home care.

Also in 2014, Mr Stephenson-Padron was elected to the Hampstead Business Association governing board and served until its conversion to a Business Improvement District (BID) zoned out Belsize Village in September 2016.

In October 2018, Mr Stephenson-Padron established the Belsize Village Business Association (BVBA) with Aya Khazaal of Pivoine Nail Spa in an effort to revitalise Belsize Village which had experienced an economic decline from 2014-2018. By October 2019, the project has been hailed as a success with Belsize Village being successfully revitalised.

On July 4, 2020, Mr Stephenson-Padron organised the first al fresco dining event in Belsize Village Streatery, London after the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic.

'I am so proud and delighted at Bob’s award of OBE'

Mr Stephenson-Padron said: “I am grateful to my fellow volunteers at the Belsize Village Business Association who with me revitalised Belsize Village from being a largely abandoned neighbourhood centre just four years ago into the thriving community centre it is today – savings jobs, creating new jobs and sparking London’s al fresco dining movement.

“I hope we will inspire others across the United Kingdom to transform their communities for the better. Looking ahead, I will continue to work to transform communities and build up living standards. Thank you, Your Majesty, for this honour and for your incredible 70 years of service. God Save The Queen!”

Penrose Care co-founder, Dr Matthew Knight, said: “On behalf of all the team at Penrose Care I am so proud and delighted at Bob’s award of OBE. Bob has tirelessly served the local and wider community with his work in the care sector, promoting the Living Wage, the Belsize Village Streatery and more lately as a Special Constable. Congratulations and well done!”

'We have a thing called the mum test in the office'

Franchise owner, Trudi Jameson has been part of the Home Instead network since 2012 and was inspired to set up Home Instead (Durham) having struggled to find “quality care” for her own mother who sadly passed away aged 66 in 2009 and “influenced her decision” to start her own care company.

Ms Jameson said: “I was so surprised to receive the letter telling me that I was to receive this Honour. I kept reading the letter to check I’d understood the contents correctly.

“I’m certain that poor-quality care contributed to my dear mum’s death at an early age, and this certainly influenced my decision to start my own care company.

“We have a thing called the mum test in the office – is the care we are providing good enough for our own mothers? We want to deliver a service that is responsive, effective, compassionate and caring.

“I’d like to recognise my fabulous operations manager, Annette Connor, who has been with me since day one and my whole team, including our fantastic care professionals, who understand the impact and importance of what we do – and who deliver our service with the utmost professionalism.

“This is a real milestone for me and all I can say is thank you for recognising my work in this way.”

Ms Jameson has been involved in the care sector since the age of 15 when she volunteered at a residential home; this was initially part of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver award and she continued to volunteer with the home for her Gold award.

Her commitment to her clients and the local community singled her out for this special recognition. She employs a team of 61, providing personal care, dementia support and companionship which allows people to remain living in their own homes for longer than would otherwise be possible.

'Trudi is a shining example of a caring, compassionate individual'

Martin Jones, chief executive of Home Instead UK said: “I was absolutely delighted to hear Trudi had been named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List – and to get it in the Platinum Jubilee year makes it all the more special.

“Trudi is a shining example of a caring, compassionate individual who has put together a fantastic team who are making a difference to clients’ lives. But that care and compassion has been extended into the wider community where I know she is well-respected for the extra work she does.

“A huge congratulations from all the team at national office, we are very proud of you.”

Outside of running the business, Ms Jameson makes a huge contribution to the local community. Over the years, she has run Dementia Family Workshops to support family members who live with or provide care for a loved one living with dementia. She has also set up and funded memory cafes for local people.

Her clients also attend ‘step back in time’ sessions at a 1950s cottage at the Beamish Museum where they are able to bake scones on an old range or toast bread over the open fire on toasting forks; all funded by Ms Jameson.

Ms Jameson will receive her BEM from the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Sue Snowdon later in the year.

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