CARER WINS TOP AWARD

CARE WORKER Loraine Harries, who is a care staff manager at Somerset-based Candlelight Homecare Services, has won the Outstanding Team Leader/Supervisor Award at a top awards presentation evening in Taunton.

Loraine was chosen as the outstanding team leader from more than 200 nominations in 12 categories in the annual Care Focus Somerset awards which recognise all aspects of health and social care organisations, involving about 15,000 employees across the county.

The presentation evening at Wellsprings Leisure Centre, Taunton, attended by 300 representatives from the care sector, was hosted by BBC Points West presenter Chris Vacher.

Loraine, who was presented with a trophy and bouquet by Claire Waddon, chief executive officer for Care Focus, joined Candlelight in January 2006 as a care assessor. She was appointed care staff manager in 2007, leading a team of 30 care staff and working with over 100 clients.

Liz Kirkham, Loraine’s managing director said: “We are fortunate to have such a dynamic and committed care staff manager on our team.”

Carol Hemmings, a care and support worker in Loraine’s team said:  “Loraine takes time to listen and help you. She doesn’t like being the centre of attention and takes her job very seriously. She never stops and is always jolly and bubbly. Every other Saturday Loraine and I do a four hour shift together looking after two little boys who cannot speak and the father is very impressed that a supervisor does hands-on work and keeps in touch with the practical side of the job. Loraine never acts above you but works as a team.”

Colleague Verna Jakobs said: “Loraine is respected by the care staff she manages. They know they can go to her for advice and support because she is professional and approachable. She has a good rapport with the clients who know she will get things done and see that problems are resolved. She is a good ambassador for the Industry. She is always polite, calm under pressure and respects people’s individuality and always has the client’s best interests at heart.”

Another Candlelight employee, Dawn DeLange, who is also a care staff manager, was also a finalist for the Tim Catley-Day Award, given to the most inspirational individual.  The award is made in memory of Candlelight’s former managing director who died in March 2004 and was this year won by Claire Parsons from Shepton Mallet-based Flourish Homes.