A night of celebrating some of Norfolk’s care heroes took place on November 3 as the winners of the Norfolk Care Awards 2022 were announced at an event held at The Holiday Inn Norwich Airport.
Jon Courtenay, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2020, hosted the event, and said it was “a pleasure to host an awards show with such worthy nominees”.
The awards were an opportunity to celebrate the inspirational work of individuals and businesses in this vital but under-appreciated sector, with the best of the best receiving recognition for the hard work and dedication they demonstrate day in and day out while delivering care and support to the people of Norfolk.
Claire Gilbert, co-director of the Norfolk Care Awards alongside Tracy Wharvell, said: “It was challenging for the judges this year to make their decisions, as we received some inspiring nominations. Social care has had a difficult few years, and it was wonderful to celebrate the amazing talent in our sector.”
Cllr Shelagh Gurney, deputy cabinet member for adult social care and one of the award judges, echoed the difficult job of selecting the winners. “Myself and my fellow judges were very impressed by the high quality of the nominations received this year, and it was very difficult to come to our final decisions. We would like to offer our congratulations to the winners of this year’s awards and say very well done to all our worthy finalists.”
Duncan Baker MP, who attended the awards, said: “It was an enormous privilege to be at the ninth annual Norfolk Care Awards. As an MP who continually talks about our carers in parliament and has spent time volunteering in a local care home, I know just how vital the sector is and what enormous work every single person across the social care sector puts in to make other people’s lives better.
“Claire Gilbert and Tracy Wharvell organised an inspirational night to give back to our local care sector, and it was an absolute joy to see the very best across the region honoured at the awards ceremony.”
For the winners, the awards offered a chance to celebrate their achievements and offer staff the recognition they deserve.
Ian Hutchison, chief executive of East Coast Community Healthcare, which won the Collaboration in Care award alongside St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “I am so proud that our partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice has made such a difference to people needing specialist palliative care in Norfolk and Waveney, and it is great for the team to have their hard work and dedication recognised, particularly given all the challenges of the pandemic.
“We are continuing to look for ways to expand and improve the service and are committed to working together to offer the highest-quality care to patients and their families in the future.”
Alex Ball from Ford Place Nursing Home, which won the Delivering Excellence Through Learning and Development award, said: “This is a really special award for us as it recognises our staff, without whom we would not have got through the last two years and some of the toughest times our industry has ever seen.
“Career progression and pathways have been a key focus for us this year, as well as a focus on reaching out to inspire the next generation to choose care as a career to solidify the workforce of the future.
“We are so proud of how our team is constantly striving to progress and develop so they can be the very best they can be, in order to deliver the very best for those that we care for.”
Frances Dawney from Abbottswood Lodge, winner of the Team Award – Together Everyone Achieved More, said: “We were lucky during the pandemic, as we got to come in and see our friends every day. Without our residents, we would have had a miserable time. Like everyone here tonight, it is the people we support who make our jobs so worthwhile.”
Sarah Lord from Extra Care Home Services, which won the End of Life Care award, said: “We have multiple chances to help others live their lives but only one chance to be there during end of life. It is our privilege at Extra Care Home Services to be involved in people’s lives at the end of their journey, ensuring they, along with their loved ones, are supported and cared for with dignity, kindness and compassion.”
The Norfolk Care Awards team would like to thank the sponsors - NorCA, Gordon Barber Funeral Homes, Newline, Zonitise, Health Education England, Norfolk County Council, Howes Percival, University of East Anglia, Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, Libby Ferris Flowers and Newsquest - for supporting this year’s awards.
Norfolk Care Awards 2022 winners and highly commended
End of Life Care
Winner:
- Extra Care Home Services
Highly commended:
- Ford Place – Thetford
- St Johns House – Norwich
Nursing in Social Care
Winner:
- Oakwood House – Norwich
Highly commended:
- Holmwood House - Swaffham
- Hassingham House Care Centre - Hingham
Ensuring Dignified & Respectful Care
Winner:
- Kevlin House – North Walsham
Highly commended:
- Extra Care Home Services
- Home Instead Mid Norfolk
Local Care Heroes
Winner:
- Cristina Probert – private carer
Highly commended:
- Gail Preston - Ambient Support, Framingham Earl
Collaboration in Care
Winner:
- East Coast Community Healthcare & St Elizabeth Hospice – Great Yarmouth and Waveney
Highly commended:
- Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support Ltd; Zena Aldridge dementia nurse consultant NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group; Dr Liz Waddy GP advisor NHS Norfolk and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group and Reflex Theatre
- Oakwood House - Norwich
Motivational Leadership
Winner:
- Joanna Jankowska - Meadow House Care Home, Swaffham
Highly commended:
- Raj Sehgal – ArmsCare
- Ruth French - Stow Healthcare
Delivering Excellence Through Learning and Development
Winner:
- Ford Place - Thetford
Highly commended:
- Oakwood House - Norwich
- Victoria Farnham and Jack Anthony-Knell – NorseCare
Rising Star
Winner:
- Faith Branagan - St Johns House, Norwich
Highly commended:
- Emily Goodchild - Oakwood House, Norwich
Team Award – Together Everyone Achieved More
Winner:
- Abbottswood Lodge – Swanton Abbott
Highly commended:
- Linden Court - Watton
- The Mayfields – Long Stratton
Harold Bodmer Outstanding Contribution Award
Winner:
- Ann Quare - a recently-retired social worker, who worked for Norfolk County Council for more than 40 years
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