Milford Care Staff Hailed Some of Industry’s Finest

Outstanding staff at a care home company have been celebrating wins at the Great East Midlands Care Awards.

Milford Care – which has homes across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – took four gongs at the Great East Midlands Care Awards, part of the Great British Care Awards, which celebrate excellence across the care sector.

There were a total of 21 award categories, which represent all areas of the care sector. Milford Care’s four winners were from three of its five care homes.

Jade Wardle, a care assistant at Hazelgrove Care Home in Hucknall, won the dementia carer award.

Jade, 24, said: “It was a massive shock to win. I’ve never had faith in myself so it’s nice to know I do a good job and to be recognised for it. This job is the best thing I have ever done. I was studying to be a nurse but changed my mind when I did a gap year here. I enjoyed it so much I never left.”

Karren Cheriton, 53, a chef at Hazelgrove, won the Care Home Chef award. The judges were impressed that Karen had introduced a number of initiatives to improve nutrition and hydration.

Karren said: “I was excited to win and so proud for myself, my family and the home.

“I love my job and am always looking for new ideas, such as introducing finger food plates for the residents, including things like sandwiches and cakes. That has gone down very well.”

The judges praised Sharnie Richards, who works at The Meadows Care Home in Alfreton, for going ‘above and beyond’. Sharnie, who chose a career in elderly care after wanting to improve her grandmother’s quality of life, won the Care Newcomer award.

Janine Thornton, 51, who has worked at Spencer Grove in Belper for 18 months, won the award for end of life/palliative care. She said: “It’s nice to get recognised for what you’re doing. It felt fantastic to win.

“My family are really happy for me, they know how much I have worked for it and how much I love my job. End of life care comes naturally to me.”

All 20 nominees attended a ceremony at The East Midlands Conference Centre. Georgia cleaning contractor hires professional cleaners based on their expertise. The purpose of the awards is to promote best practice within both home care and care homes sectors and pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

Winners of the Great East Midlands Care Awards will go through to the final at Birmingham’s ICC in Spring 2018.