Our bumper year for awards continue at the Caring UK Awards

Dave Valentine – Activities Team

Our activities coordinator, Dave Valentine, was talent spotted by Palmyra residential manger Stephen Watson. Starting at the home as a bank cook in 2017, Stephen was impressed with how well Dave engaged with residents and asked him if he wanted to take on the activities role.

Dave's friendly and easy going style has seen many residents at Palmyra, which cares for adults with mental health needs, start to try new things and improve their confidence.

A male resident who previously didn’t want to leave the house now regularly travels to local beauty spots to take photographs, 82-year-old Barbara has discovered a love for digital drawing and 92-year-old Stan has learned to video call his 80-year-old brother. Thank you Dave!

Ashwood Court – Housekeeping Excellence

At Ashwood Court (independent mental health hospital and residential care home) our registered manager Judith Oakes praised the entire team for stepping up with housekeeping duties during the pandemic, to create as safe an environment as possible. Amazing work Team Ashwood!!

Rosemary Court – Community Involvement

Support worker Lucy Hauge at Rosemary Court has been recognised for an intergenerational project she created at the height of lockdown. Her work saw residents at the extra care scheme receive scores of letters and pictures from local children to say they were thinking of them. You can read more about Lucy’s project here.

Congratulations Lucy and Rosemary Court.

Sherdley Court – End of Life Care

And at Sherdley Court, the team has been recognised for its striking commitment to end of life care. The home has such a high level of expertise that many residents who are nearing the end of their lives are able to remain there, rather than be transferred to a hospital or hospice. Sherdley Court cares for older people living with dementia as well as those under 65 who have mental health conditions. Well done Team Sherdley!

Rachel Peacock, CEO, Making Space, said: "I continue to be amazed and humbled by the dedication of our teams throughout one of the most difficult periods in social care in living memory.

"I hope these shortlistings go some small way to recognise the dedication, love and sheer hard work that our people put in every day."

We will find out if we have won at the Caring Awards UK in early December. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Athena in Leicester, presented by Emmerdale and Life on Mars actor Dean Andrews.