Winners announced at sixth Barchester care awards

The sixth Barchester care awards celebrated winners from 12 categories at an evening award ceremony at the Hyatt Regency, Birmingham.

This year there were more than 550 entries from care homes across the UK and Ireland, as Barchester encourages its employees to share the difference their colleagues make to the lives of the residents they care for and the support they give their families.

A cook-off was held with seven chefs during the day to decide who would win ‘Chef of the Year’. The chefs received the advice and opinion of celebrity chef and judge, Paul Rankin.

There was also a new category announced this year, ‘Administrator Champion’ that recognises the role that front of house administrators fulfil at Barchester Homes.

The annual Barchester Care Awards 2012 winners, are:

• Chef of the Year - Sonja Bakalova, Ashcombe House in Hampshire

• Barchester’s Charitable Foundation Champion - The Tin Shakers band, White Lodge in Wiltshire

• Administration Champion - Cidalia De Abreu, Brook House in London

• Carer of the Year - Chloe Barnes, Badgeworth in Gloucestershire and Emma Rust, Wood Grange in Lincolnshire

• Nurse of the Year - Sarah Finnegan, Knightsbridge in Ireland

• Diverse Services Champion - Simon Richell, The Hawthorns in Durham

• Home Trainer of the Year - Mark Culley, North Park and Hundens in Durham

• Apprentice of the Year - Chloe Fardell, Newton House in Lincolnshire

• Activities Co-ordinator of the Year - Tim Gannon, Oulton Park in Suffolk

• Maintenance Champion - Nathan Kidd, The Warren in Norfolk

• Hospitality Champion - Joyce Woodmore, Strachan House in Midlothian

• Memory Lane Champion - Rachel Foord, Hunters in Gloucestershire

Founder and chief executive of Barchester, Mike Parsons said: “This year is our 20th anniversary and it is at awards like these that I am reminded just how amazing and dedicated all our staff are.

“Person-centred care is at the core of everything Barchester is about. Whether it’s a chef asking a resident about their food likes and dislikes or a member of our maintenance team finding time to help a resident with a crossword puzzle, caring is at the forefront of all that we do.”

Photo: Celebrity chef, Paul Rankin with Barchester Chef of the Year, Sonja Bakalova from Ashcombe House in Hampshire