The teams at Priory Court Care & Nursing Home in Burnham-On-Sea, Summer Lane Care & Nursing Home in Weston-Super-Mare, Stanton Court Care & Nursing Home in Stanton Drew and The Laurels Care Home in Draycott near Cheddar have been celebrating their annual Country Court Staff Awards this week. Traditionally Christmas is an opportunity for Country Court directors to visit Country Court’s Care Homes in Somerset to say ‘thank you’ in-person to staff teams for all their hard work and to celebrate with their Staff Awards. This year the Awards have gone ahead virtually; with nominations made online, the judges have reviewed the entries and the winners were announced in a series of virtual award ceremonies throughout December, with the Directors broadcasting from their own ‘Santa’s Grotto’.
“The Country Court Board of Directors are extremely proud of our staff family this year.” Said Alykhan Kachra, Co-CEO. “Every day in our homes across the country we have seen examples of how our teams have gone above and beyond to keep our residents safe, often putting them before their own families. We are very lucky to have such a supportive and devoted group of people, the awards are an important opportunity to celebrate the positive work going on in our homes. Our staff should be proud of the difference they have made to people’s lives this year”.
There were over 1000 nominations across the group from staff and residents and their families. This year it was clear how much families appreciated the efforts of staff to keep their loved ones safe and how much staff had supported each other throughout the pandemic.
Winners at Priory Court Care & Nursing Home were Care Practitioner Liji Koshy Joshua, Nurse Mutor Owoso, Activity Coordinator Rachel Latimer and a special commendation for Care Assistant Emma Bennett. A family member who nominated Rachel said “Rachel makes sure my mum keeps contact with me. She keeps me involved even though I can’t see my mum. Nothing is too much trouble. I really appreciate it. Rachel may think it’s a small thing, for my mum and I it means the world.”
At Summer Lane Care & Nursing Home the winners were Nurse Agnieszka Iacob, Senior Carer Juiet Kyte, Care Assistant Katelan Morgan-Roberts and special commendations for Maintenance Man Alan Brace and Home Manager Vimal Samuel. A family member who nominated Agnieszka said “Agie was so very kind and thoughtful trying to help mummy settle in from day one. Her attention to detail in checking … and making proposals for future treatment. She checked all the clothes I bought in to check if appropriate, she wrote some messages from me on some paper so mummy could read them! Fantastic Thank you”.
Winners at Stanton Court Care & Nursing Home were Senior Carer Charlotte Krug, Care Assistant Suzanne Chappell and Kitchen Assistant Dawn Field. A colleague who nominated Dawn said “Dawn is an amazing lady very caring loving nature nothing is too much trouble for her. Dawn always says I love my little job I tell her that she has one of the most important jobs in the home. If a resident doesn't want to eat or drink Dawn has a wonderful way of encouraging (people) to take fluid or food, nothing is too much trouble and (she) takes the time and care to do the best she can. Dawn has a big personality and a very caring heart.”
At The Laurels Care Home winners were Housekeeper Karen Marshall, Care Assistant Gemma Sweeting and Housekeeper Sally Stevens. A colleague who nominated Gemma said, “Gemma made the hardest decision to separate herself from young children at the height of pandemic to ensure she could continue to safely care for our residents.” Another nomination said “Anyone who is prepared to work as hard as Gemma during the early stage of pandemic, putting our residents first and not seeing her children or family that often, deserves an award”
The award categories are aligned to the company’s three core values of ‘Local home, National family’, ‘Shared experiences bring us together’ and ‘Celebrating life every day’, the values encompass the way Country Court wishes life to be lived in their homes. The awards go to staff who have gone above and beyond to exemplify the family values at the heart of each Country Court home.
To find out more about Country Court Staff Awards 2020 take a look at our Facebook pages @thelaurelscarehome, @summerlanenursingandcarehome, @stantoncourt and @priorycourtnursinghome or contact our Care Homes in Somerset below:
