‘Activity Organiser of the Year’ Award Great South East Care Awards

Elaine Bashford, Activity Care Coordinator from Avante Care and Support – Barton Court care home has been honoured at a glittering awards ceremony.

Elaine, received the Activity Organiser of the Year Award at the Great South East Care Awards Gala Dinner, at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton on Saturday 8th November.

Elaine, who is an Activity Care Coordinator at Barton Court residential home in Minster, Isle of Sheppey, demonstrated to the judging panel that she can provide a needs led, varied and appropriate programme for those living with dementia in a residential care setting. Barton Court is a residential care home specialising in dementia care, run by Avante Care and Support.

Elaine who joined Avante Care and Support in March 2012 said:

“I felt honoured when I learnt that a member of staff from our Head Office had nominated me for this award. To be recognised for doing a job that I love and feel passionate about is amazing. I am absolutely delighted to win this award. It was a great evening and a fantastic feeling when my name was called out.”

Next step for Elaine will be the national finals in spring 2015, held in Birmingham, where winners from across the country come together to hear who has won the coveted national awards. The awards, which promote best practice by recognising excellence in care and the impact good care has on those receiving care and their relatives, have received support from the Adult Directors of Social Services (ADASS), Department of Health, Ceretas, the English Community Care Association (ECCA), the National Academy for Social Care and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Skills for Care.

Judge Lisa Carr, a Director of the Great British Care Awards said,

“The Great British Care Awards are now in their sixth year and are continuing to go from strength to strength.   We never cease to be amazed with the quality of nominations and this year is no exception.  The two new categories, The Good Nurse Award and The Housing with Care Award, have also proved very popular, demonstrating the significance of integration between health, housing and social care. This evening was a true celebration for the unsung heroes of social care, without whom quality care provision in our communities would fail.”