RCH Care Homes Celebrates Double Win at the 2022 National Great British Care Awards

RCH Care Homes are celebrating a double win at the 2022 National Great British Care Awards. On the 18th March the very best of social care came together for a spectacular gala evening to celebrate the regional winners of the 2021 Great British Care Awards and to find out the national winners.

RCH Care Homes were honoured and very excited to have seven national finalists at this year’s event. This included, Clare Silvester, Head of Care and Governance, Angela Gibson, Director of Quality and Care and Pauline Manning Head of HR and Development who were nominated as Frontline Leader Finalists, Elena David and Lee Cunningham who were both nominated as Care Assessor Finalists.
Mary Prechner and Roger Neave, Park View Care Centre resident who were also both nominated as Unpaid Carer Finalists. Maidstone Care Centre’s Lifestyles Team were Covid Heroes Group finalists and finally Abigail Draper, Marketing Manager was a Care Innovator Finalist.

We are excited to announce that Georgia Williams, Tara Cole and Sharon Barham from Maidstone Care Centre’s Lifestyle Team were announced as the National Winners of the Group Covid Hero Award.  This special award was awarded to a team who had gone above and beyond during the Covid-19 crisis.
Judges looked for examples of a creative, innovative and flexible approach from outstanding social care professionals. Selflessness, dedication and a commitment to maintaining the safety, physical and emotional wellbeing of service users and/or staff members are all essential criteria.

The Judges said, ‘This cohesive and passionate team left us assured that they understood the needs of those they support and those supporting them. They are our Covid heroes because they provided a safe, family environment to residents when their own families couldn’t be present.’

Our other winner of the night was Mary Prechner volunteer from Woodlands Care Centre who was announced as the National winner of the Unpaid Carer Award.

The Unpaid Carer Award was given to an unpaid carer who, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrated commitment and perseverance in helping to bring about better recognition and support for carers. It seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication that carers show to their local community or society or the difference they have made to the life of a vulnerable person they are caring for.

For over 5 years Mary has been volunteering at Woodlands Care Centre and over this period Mary has been conducting regular monthly Reminiscing Sessions with the residents. For her sessions Mary sources, a wide selection of wonderful and interesting original items for all to see and touch. The sessions are extremely popular with both our residents and relatives.

The homes General Manager Rubina Arunagiri expressed how much Mary means to the home, “The lounge is always packed

 and the residents’ eyes just light up – the hour session just seems to fly by so quickly! Mary has a great sense of humour, is extremely patient, never rushes her sessions and always has time for the residents; she has been so generous in giving us her time over all these years. We couldn’t think of anyone who deserves this award more than Mary and we are so proud she is part of our Woodlands family”