Making Space employee has been nominated for a top social care award!
Gaynor Jones, spent seven years in the Royal Navy, before joining the team at Making Space's Cedar House, in Spalding, Lincolnshire, which provides respite care for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
Gaynor was nominated for the Lincolnshire Care Awards Rising Star award by both her manager Julie Watson and Trish Wilkinson, the mother of one of the people she cares for.
Trish’s son Scott, 19, has stayed for short breaks at Cedar House around 20 times over the last 18 months. She said she put Gaynor forward for the accolade because she felt it was important to let someone know when they are doing a great job.
“It was hard for me when Scott turned 18 and had to move from children’s to adult services,” she said. “He can’t communicate with me to tell me how he’s feeling, but as soon as I heard Gaynor singing to him, I knew he’d be fine.
“Gaynor is so warm and friendly and approachable and she was the first person we met at Cedar House. She made us feel instantly comfortable. She’s a real problem solver and you know whenever you mention anything to her she will sort it out.”
Originally from South Wales, senior support worker Gaynor now lives in Kirton, Boston, and has been employed at the centre for the last two years.
Julie Watson, Registered Manager at Cedar House, said: “Gaynor is always happy and the people we care for love our little Welsh lass. Best of all is when we see people who can’t communicate come to life when they hear her voice.
“Working in social care is hard, but Gaynor is always a total professional. Nothing phases her at all.”
Gaynor said: “I had no idea I had made such an impression on Scott’s mother and was over the moon to be nominated. I emailed Trish right away to thank her.
“A good support worker needs to be caring, patient, imaginative and good at communicating. Being in the Navy was excellent preparation as I leaned organisation skills, problem solving and logistics, all of which are also important in health and social care roles.”
Cedar House is also in the running for a second Lincolnshire Care Award. The whole team of 13 has been nominated for the outstanding care team of the year.
Gaynor and the rest of the team will find out if they have won at a gala awards evening at the County Assembly Rooms in Bailgate, Lincoln, on 28 February.
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