“Our Workplace Is Not Just About Our Jobs, But About Building Relationships, Sharing Happiness, and Making a Difference”: Husband and Wife Duo Take Top Honours in Spellman Care’s October Extra Mile Awards

Family-run care group Spellman Care has announced the winners of its October Extra Mile Awards (EMAs), marking an exceptional month of achievements across its four nursing and care homes in North and West Yorkshire. October’s awards presented a series of unique milestones that perfectly reflect the group’s family-led ethos and person-led culture.

The Extra Mile Awards are a central staff recognition scheme created to celebrate team members who go above and beyond in their daily roles, with nominations submitted directly by residents, relatives, and colleagues across all homes. Month on month, the initiative sees a remarkably high volume of nominations, highlighting the continuous dedication, compassion, and hard work of the Spellman Care team.

October’s awards proved particularly special as, across both the Extra Mile Awards and its predecessor, the Star Awards, top honours were claimed by a husband-and-wife duo working together at Craven Nursing Home for the very first time.

Care Assistant Allan Calunod was named the October EMA Winner. Allan was nominated for his exceptional dedication, calm composure during challenging situations, and his commitment to delivering deeply personalised care, including bringing in his own equipment to cut a resident’s hair when they were too unwell to visit the home’s in-house salon.

The Runner-Up position was awarded to Allan’s wife, Mae Calunod, who took time out of her day to share her expert knowledge by delivering Neuro Observation training to colleagues at sister home, Springbank.

To mark the achievement, Allan was presented with his winner’s certificate at Craven Nursing Home, where he and Mae were joined by their children to celebrate as a family.
Reflecting on the achievement, Runner-Up Mae Calunod shared:

“Receiving these awards was such a wonderful and meaningful moment for Allan and me. We were both incredibly happy and proud, and we shared the good news with our children. They were equally happy and proud of us, telling us that we had done well. Their reactions made the moment even more special.

“The appreciation we received from the management, our colleagues, and everyone at Craven was truly heartwarming and fulfilling. There is something incredibly special about working in an environment where you feel seen, appreciated, and valued. It is a feeling that we will always carry in our hearts. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who made these awards possible.

“To us, these awards mean so much more than a certificate or a piece of paper; they represent recognition, encouragement, and the feeling that our hard work truly matters. They have given us a great sense of pride, which we are also happy to share with our children. We want our children to see that we genuinely enjoy and love what we do. Through our experiences at Craven, they have seen how meaningful our work is, whether it is taking part in activities such as playing dominoes with the residents or attending the Summer Fayre. These experiences help them understand that our workplace is not just about our jobs, but also about building relationships, sharing happiness, and making a difference in people’s lives.

“For us, Craven is more than just a workplace for the residents and staff; it feels like one big family. Being part of this family, feeling appreciated, and knowing that our contributions matter is something we deeply cherish. We are truly thankful for this recognition and proud to be part of the Craven family.”

The month also saw another milestone for Spellman Care with the presentation of its first-ever Special Recognition Award to Donna Price, Head Housekeeper at Steeton Court Nursing Home. Donna received multiple nominations both before and after her promotion, recognising her tireless work ethic, stepping up to support various departments across the home, and picking up extra shifts.

Speaking on the October awards, Group Director Steven Spellman said:

“Our Extra Mile Awards were created to shine a light on the extraordinary effort our staff put in every single day. Seeing a husband and wife take our top two spots this month, alongside presenting our first Special Recognition Award, is a wonderful reflection of the warm, family environment we strive to cultivate across all our homes. When our staff feel supported and connected, it directly translates into richer, more meaningful care for our residents.”

Members of the public, residents, and family members can vote for the next awards by visiting www.spellmancare.co.uk/TheEMAs.