National Carer of the Year 2016 - Walstead Place Care Home

Recipient: Walstead Place Care Home

Date: Friday 25 Nov 2016

Doreen at Walstead Place wins National Carer of the Year 2016 Award

Walstead Place in Haywards Heath are delighted to announce that Doreen Knight, Senior Care Assistant won Carer of the Year at Friday night’s National Care Awards.

Doreen was nominated by the Home Manager, Jacquie Ferguson, for her outstanding contribution to care at Walstead for the past 29 years.

To win the title, Doreen was required to attend an interview in October, following her shortlisting as one of five finalists from entries across the UK.

The accolade comes just a few weeks after Doreen won the Care Home Worker Award 2016 from West Sussex Partners in Care.

Doreen combines her care role with activities, working alongside the other activities co-ordinators developing and exceptional activity programme. She has also developed a passion for dementia care and has been instrumental in developing dementia activities at Walstead. She is also a good mentor to junior colleagues; recently she undertook ‘Buddy’ training which enables her to oversee new staff and assist with their care certificate.

Of her win, Doreen says:
“I’m still taking it in, but it feels very special. I’m lucky to work with a wonderful team at Walstead and I enjoy what I do. It is lovely to be recognised for my work.”

Jacquie Ferguson, Home Manager at Walstead, says:
“I cannot express how proud we are of Doreen. We’ve known for many years what a fantastic carer she is, and now it’s been acknowledged locally and nationally. What an achievement!”