National Care Hero Award for Harrogate Carer

Aneta Ryczkowska, Care Assistant at Vida Grange Care Home in Harrogate has won a national social care hero award in recognition of her hard work.

The award has been made this week by Support Social Care Heroes (SSCH), an organisation which aims to preserve, protect and improve the health and wellbeing of those providing social care.

SSCH launched the monthly award programme this year to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the 1.54m people working in social care in the UK. Aneta, who was nominated for March 2022, is the third award winner.

Aneta was nominated by her colleagues, her manager Victoria Edwards said:

“Aneta is truly worthy of this award which was recognised by myself and her team. Aneta is fantastic in her work, putting the residents at the heart of all she does. Well done and congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
On hearing she had won the award Aneta said:
“I am very surprised, I didn’t expect this, I’m doing my job the best I can and am really happy I have won this award.”

Aneta will receive a £50 voucher for the grocery store of her choice, a box of chocolates, certificate, a SSCH hoody and Vida Grange Care Home will receive a bunch of flowers. The prizes have been sponsored by VAT Solutions.

The social care workforce is often overlooked yet they keep the most vulnerable people in our society safe and well. It is hoped that SSCH will receive significant support following research which found that the overwhelming majority of the public feel that social care staff are undervalued (81%) and underpaid (80%). The monthly care hero awards have been created to show that care workers are appreciated.

Nicola Richards, Founder of Support Social Care Heroes, explained the thinking behind the idea:

“Social care staff often do not get the recognition that they deserve despite being valued by their managers and employers.

“Many care homes already have ‘employee of the month’ schemes and we really felt we should do something to bring all these nominations together from around the country to celebrate all our social care heroes and the amazing work they do.

“The pandemic has brought social care colleagues across the country together as we have supported each other like never before. I hope these awards will provide a positive boost to carers, managers and the wider care home teams.

“These awards are the first step in our long-term plans to ensure those who need care, and those caring for them, are valued by all in society.

“Our country’s social care heroes have been on the front line and in the headlines for almost two years and this new initiative will help show them that they are valued and recognise the work they do.”

Social care employers are encouraged to nominate their staff for a care home hero award (employee of the month). Taking part has been made simple and easy: post a photo of your employee of the month and which care home you represent, to social media, with the hashtag #SocialCareHeroAwards and tag Support Social Care Heroes page. Tell us in 160 characters why the person is a social care hero.

All nominations will be curated by the Support Social Care Heroes team and on the last Monday of each month a winner will be chosen at random.