Lancaster carer wins national accolade

More than 2,500 nominations were received from colleagues in homes and hospitals across the UK and Jamie Hodgson was thrilled to have been declared the national winner.

The awards celebrate staff and volunteers who go the extra mile for the benefit of residents and patients living in Barchester care homes and independent mental health hospitals. Categories range from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Maintenance Champion’ and ‘Team of the Year’.

Jamie Hodgson said: “I’m honoured and humbled to receive this award, especially as this year has been so difficult for everybody in the care sector. My role has changed completely since the pandemic- last year the focus was on bringing the community, including volunteers, local schools, charity groups and therapy animals into the home. This year has been about keeping people connected with their families via phone or Skype, organising garden visits over the summer, and just being there for our residents during such a tough time.

‘Activities’ is always about the whole-home approach though- the carers, housekeepers, kitchen team and maintenance man all play their part, just by taking the time to have a quick chat with the residents, making sure they’re comfortable and have everything they need. So the whole team at Laurel Bank deserve recognition for their achievements in guiding us through such a difficult time.”

After being named as the divisional winner of the Northern Region, Jamie met with a panel of judges on Zoom for the last round of judging. He then joined the other divisional winners from across the UK at a special virtual awards ceremony in October to celebrate their achievements.

Care home general manager, Lyndsay Scott, at Laurel Bank said: “This is an amazing achievement and the whole home is supporting Jamie. He has worked so hard in this past year not just to deliver a busy, meaningful activity schedule, but helping out wherever he can around the home. He has built strong relationships not just with our residents and their families, but with our community in general. We are proud to have him in our team!”

Laurel Bank is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. We have remained at the forefront of the UK’s private healthcare sector by providing award-winning care and investing in our employees through training, development and sector-leading rewards. Laurel Bank provides residential and nursing care, for 65 residents, from respite care to long term stays.