Black Swan Care Group Staff Recognised at Awards Ceremony

The dedication and outstanding contributions of staff across Black Swan Care Group’s 24 care homes in East Anglia have been celebrated at the company’s annual awards ceremony.

Held at Carrow Road stadium in Norwich, the Black Swan Care Awards brought together nearly 300 people to recognise excellence in care and support for residents.

Winners were announced in 16 separate categories including care, activities, catering, maintenance, domestic, community engagement, resident and relatives’ choice, leadership and making wishes possible.  In total, over 1,800 nominations were received from staff, colleagues, residents, their friends and families and professionals who visit the care homes.Managing Director Tom Lyons, who introduced the night, expressed his delight and thanks to the teams: “I’m truly humbled and grateful to all of our staff. Having 300 people from all our homes in one room and hearing stories of the best of the best of our teams was wonderful. It was a real pleasure to listen to and recognise the fantastic work they do every day and night in our homes.

“Choosing winners is such a difficult job when we see nominations of kindness, caring, support and compassion towards our residents, their families and communities. I’m immensely proud of every single one of them.”

Jo Taylor from Kings Lynn Residential care home received the award for Family & Community Engagement for her ongoing work with the local Royal British Legion: “I was gobsmacked to win this award. In my role as Activities Co-Ordinator, I work closely with lots of people in the Kings Lynn area, so for one of them to nominate me was lovely. It’s really important to me that we support our residents to continue to be a part of their local community and do the things they enjoy.”

The winners of the categories were presented with a uniquely designed trophy from the company directors and representatives from companies associated with Black Swan.

The winners were:

• New to Care Award : Jennie de Jesus, Park House care home, Great Yarmouth.
• Domestic Award: Liz Hayden, Valentine House care home, Silver End, Essex.
• Catering Award: Heath Brown, The Gables, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
• Outstanding Support of Our Care Homes Award: Rhys Burford, Digital Project Officer, Head Office, Norwich.
• Mentor Award: Rachel Roberts, Laurel Lodge care home, Norwich.
• Maintenance Award: Jon Ridgway, Beccles care home, Suffolk.
• Excellence in a Care Role Award: Kebba Cham, Southwell Court, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire.
• Outstanding Support for Homes at Night Award: Mercy Melly, Chiswick House, Norwich.
• Outstanding Dementia Care Support Award: Faith Jezeph, Nightingale Lodge care home, Hunstanton.
• Activities Award: Myra Cabacungan, The Lodge care home, Walton on the Naze, Essex.
• Family & Community Engagement Award: Jo Taylor, Kings Lynn Residential care home, Norfolk.
• Making Wishes Possible Award: Gabby Magee, Heathcote care home, Norwich.
• Motivational Leadership Award: Lisa King, Southwell Court, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire.
• Residents’ and relatives’ Choice Award: Mariana Soare, York House care home, Dereham, Norfolk.
• Always Smiling and Positive Attitude Award: Remees Kolappurath, Thomas Tawell House, Norwich.
• Outstanding Contribution: Sharon Haynes, Head Office Manager, Norwich, Norfolk.