Social care chiefs and disability charity boss recognised in Queen's New Year's Honours List

A chief executive of a care home group and the head of a disability charity are amongst the many people recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2022.

Dan Hayes, chief executive of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2022 New Year’s Honours for his services to the social care sector.

Mr Hayes who joined OSJCT 19 years ago as an HR manager and progressed within the organisation through to his appointment as chief executive in 2015, said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this recognition, but also clear that the award would not have been made if I hadn’t been fortunate enough to spend my social care career with OSJCT. It’s my great good fortune to represent literally thousands of OSJCT colleagues who deserve similar recognition for what they continue to do, and who have carried me to the honour.

“In the truest sense, this OBE is for them, and it is in recognition of the lives they make better through their love and professionalism every day.”

Mr Hayes strongly believes the social care workforce should be adequately recognised and renumerated and has been pivotal in lobbying key stakeholders, including government, for reforms. He is also a board director of the National Care Forum which promotes quality care and advocates with government departments and the media on behalf of the sector.

Mark Everall, chair of trustees at OSJCT, said: “This OBE is well-deserved, and the trust could not be more proud of Dan.

"He has skillfully guided the organisation through this pandemic and has been a passionate advocate of the sector for many years. His leadership epitomises the compassion, resilience, and commitment of all those across the Trust working so hard to provide loving care for those we look after.”

'It has been a privilege to work alongside people with a learning disability'

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.

Also recognised is Janine Tregelles, chief executive of . She has been awarded a CBE for her services to learning disability.

Ms Tregelles has been supporting disabled people and their families for over 30 years and became chief executive of Revitalise, the UK’s specialist provider of respite holidays for disabled people and their carers in January 2020.

She said: “I am proud and delighted to accept this recognition for the contribution that I and so many colleagues have made to the social care sector over the years. It has been a privilege to work alongside people with a learning disability and their families.

“Not only have I been touched and inspired by each of their personal stories, but the advocacy, dedication and ambition they have shown to fight for change in the sector has been instrumental in changing the lives of thousands of disabled people and their loved ones for the better.”

Ms Tregelles began her career at New Era Housing Association, developing community-based housing for people with a learning disability. In 1996, Janine moved to Mencap where she set up Golden Lane Housing, a social housing provider, before being appointed Director of Personal Support, and then chief executive in 2013.

After leaving Mencap in 2019, Ms Tregelles founded Access Social Care, a charity providing free legal advice and information to people with social care needs.

George Blunden, chair of Revitalise said: “My colleagues and I are absolutely thrilled Janine has received such a hugely-deserved honour. Whilst we recognise that it has been awarded principally for her work at Royal Mencap Society, we are extremely fortunate that that same passion, skill, and dedication is now being reflected in her dynamic work at Revitalise, where she continues her tireless support of disabled people and their families”.

Other recipients for the Queen's honours are Sharon Davies of Hertfordshire Care Providers Association who has been appointed an OBE for services to the adult social care sector.

Kerry Michael Rubie, patron and chair of Friends of the Elderly, appointed an MBE for services to innovation, leadership and governance in adult social care. (London, Greater London).

Sanjiv Vedi, head of office of the chief social care officer for Wales has received an OBE for public, charitable and voluntary service.

Maxine Espley, 55, from Sutton Coldfield. The executive director of care and support at Green Square Accord has been appointed an MBE for services to health and social care.

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