Devon care home group wins big at national care awards
A Devon care home group has been crowned 'care employer of the year' at a recent UK awards ceremony.
Southern Healthcare won a total of five national awards at two glittering ceremonies in London and Leicester.
Teams of carers from Southern Healthcare’s award-winning care homes in Exeter, Plymouth, Seaton, and Dawlish. attended the National Care Awards at the Excel in London, and the Caring UK Awards in Leicester.
Both award bodies recognised Southern Healthcare's commitment to training and development, and the care home group was crowned the UK's 'Care Employer of the Year' by Caring UK.
On receiving the awards, Geoffrey Cox, Southern Healthcare's managing director, said: "A huge thank you to my wife, business partner and co-trainer of more than 20 years, Margot Whittaker, and to our nursing home managers and the teams at Southern Healthcare. For everyone's effort in exploring new ideas, reflecting and learning from, and supporting each other."
He continued: "We are tremendously proud of all of our teams and particularly congratulate the finalists for their dedication to caring for the people living in their homes. We know their daily kindness and commitment to residents and to each other makes our homes vibrant, spontaneous and loving places to live and work."
Southern Healthcare's director of nursing and compliance, Margot Whittaker, was also honoured at Caring UK Awards for her commitment to social care. Margot was presented with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Social Care after she developed an advanced diploma in social care nursing.
Geoffrey congratulated Margot on her prestigious award, explaining that it would "underpin clinical expertise and build high levels of emotional intelligence", as well as enhancing nurses' interpersonal skills, which will help to meet the increasingly complex demands on residential care homes.
The diploma has been rolled out with the help of Bolton University and the first cohort of nurses are nearing the end of the pilot.
Southern Healthcare also reached the finals of the Caring UK Awards in two other categories. Sefton Hall in Dawlish was a finalist for both 'Dementia Care Team of the Year' and 'Care Home of the Year (South)'. Andy Cowling from the care team at The Old Rectory in Exeter, was a finalist for 'Care Employee of the Year'.
Geoffrey said the awards had been 'a wonderful moment' to reflect positively on the care sector amidst skyrocketing costs for care providers, and a rising need for care due to a growing elderly population.
