Social care chiefs and care home workers among Queen's New Year's Honours List

Care home workers, a care home boss as well as the head of a care charity are amongst the many people recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2021.

The Queen’s New Year’s Honours List recognises the incredible achievements and service of people across the whole of the UK, and this year a number of people in the social care sector have been given an award in recognition of their hard work.

Charito Romano and Andrew Rowe from Arbrook House Care Home in Esher, Surrey have both been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Charito Romano, staff nurse at Arbrook House was nominated by her colleagues at the home. Throughout the pandemic, Ms Romano rallied her nursing and care team to do everything necessary to keep residents and colleagues safe and stepped up to cover the role of clinical services manager and cover absences when colleagues needed to isolate.

Ms Romano said: “I am so proud to have been recognised. My whole team has worked so hard during the pandemic and this really is a reflection on all of us.

“The last few months have been challenging, but we’ve made sure our residents have been happy and well throughout and always done what we can to put a smile on their faces.”

Andrew Rowe, senior activities coordinator, also supported the home throughout the pandemic. He would come in on days off to assist with care, hospitality, reception and anything else to support the residents. He has also worked hard to keep family and residents connected, putting in place various ways to keep in touch while keeping residents safe.

Mr Rowe adapted his activities program to make life as enjoyable as possible for the residents, such as a hugely popular, socially distanced summer fete and an amazing Halloween event.

Mr Rowe said: “I’m overwhelmed to have been recognised by the Queen in her New Year’s Honours.

“This year has been like no other and we’ve worked incredibly hard to ensure our residents enjoy as normal life as possible, whilst adhering to the guidelines.

“I was so pleased with our summer fete and our Halloween event; everything ran so smoothly, and our residents really enjoyed it. It’s so important that we put a smile on their faces during this time.

“Of course, this recognition is also for my amazing team to whom I’d like to say a huge thank you!”

Joan Elliott, managing director for Bupa Care Services, said: “I am incredibly proud to see our colleagues listed in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours. This is an outstanding achievement and pays tribute to their unwavering dedication to caring for our residents and each other this year.

“Charito and Andrew have gone above and beyond for Arbrook House. They’re a credit to Bupa and to society, and we are delighted to see them recognised in this way.”

'It's mostly the characters I have met that make the job worthwhile'

Emrys Owen, lead healthcare assistant at Royal Star & Garter who has supported veterans for almost 40 years has been awarded the BEM for services to veterans during COVID-19.

Mr Owen has been with the charity, which provides care for veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, since 1982.

Mr Owen said: “I’m highly delighted that someone like me could receive such an award. It’s mostly the people I have looked after over the years, the stories I have heard and the characters that I have met that make the job so worthwhile. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else, it’s an amazing organisation to work for.”

Andy Cole, chief executive of Royal Star & Garter said: “I’m delighted that Emrys’ dedication and hard work in support of the nation’s veterans has been acknowledged. Emrys has embodied the very best of Royal Star & Garter’s values throughout his four decades at the charity. We are one big family at Royal Star & Garter, and I have no doubt that all the staff, residents and volunteers will be enormously proud of Emrys’ hugely well-deserved recognition.”

'This honour is for every single person within the Salutem family'

The chief executive of Salutem Care and Education, John Godden, has been awarded a Member of the British Empire (MBE) award for services to the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Salutem Care and Education is a UK based residential and healthcare operator and investor with 130 services nationwide.

John Godden said: “I am immensely proud to have received this honour, which is really a testament to the hard work, dedication and determination of all our staff at Salutem who have continued to go above and beyond to provide the highest levels of care and education during this pandemic.

“They have consistently demonstrated their roles as key workers and care professionals by adapting quickly, operating safely and maintaining our specialist services to the people we support throughout this unprecedented time.

“This honour is for every single person within the Salutem family that have proven to be exceptional in the most difficult and challenging of circumstances.”

'To receive this honour is very special'

CareTech Foundation chief executive Jonathan Freeman has also been recognised with an MBE for services to charity.

CareTech foundation is the first corporate foundation in the social care sector, which supports and champions care workers, those living in care and the care sector as a whole.

Since its founding three years ago, the foundation has committed over £2.5M in grants to long-term partnerships to drive change in the care sector, including a one-million-pound partnership with the British Asian Trust to deliver a step change in mental health and wellbeing provision in Pakistan where mental health problems affect one in four people.

CareTech has also forged a one-million-pound partnership with Barnardos to create a ground-breaking digital resource to support at least 1000 young people per year leaving care.

As well as developing a newly completed ToddlerLab at Birkbeck University of London that uses cutting edge technologies for early age autism research.

In addition CareTech has established a ground-breaking partnership with EY Foundation to develop a powerful new 'care to employment' programme for young people.

Mr Freeman said: “Working in charities is a rare privilege and to receive this honour as well is very special. I am very proud of the work each of the charities I am fortunate enough to be involved with has done.”

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