Alison Fry, who has worked at Fairway View care home since 2019, has been recognised for her enthusiasm, insightful care home knowledge and dedication to help others.
The award was particularly poignant, as Alison spent much of her time throughout the pandemic offering guidance, updates, and regular check ins with residents friends and families, whilst also organising socially distanced visits and skype calls so loved ones could keep in touch throughout the lockdowns.
The annual Ideal Care Awards were created in 2019 to recognise, reward and pay tribute to the Ideal Carehomes staff team who go above and beyond their roles.
After a callout for nominations, the group received a record breaking 1200 entries across 14 categories, ranging from Housekeeping Hero and Resident Outstanding Contribution to Home Manager and Home of the Year.
Internal judging days took place in July which determined the finalists who were invited to celebrate their achievements at a gala dinner at Casa Hotel in Chesterfield. The awards were hosted by Shaun Williamson, well- known for his role as Barry Evans in EastEnders.
Shaun entertained the finalists with stand-up comedy before announcing each category winner. He said, ‘It was a real honour to have been asked to join Ideal Carehomes at their awards ceremony. The stories of each finalist were incredibly moving, and it made every award extremely meaningful. Congratulations to the winners, you are all such a deserving bunch of people!’.
Speaking after the awards, Alison, said, ‘I am so thrilled to have been presented with the ‘Support Star’ award. There were so many incredibly talented people within the category, so to have won makes me feel incredibly proud. Thank you to everybody who took the time to nominate me, it really means so much to me that my work brings such comfort and support to others’.
Home Manager, Gaynor Smart-McCann, said, ‘I am incredibly proud of Alison and her achievements, she is an extremely deserving winner! Alison is an extremely valued member of our team, however, her work throughout the pandemic has been invaluable. Alison devoted herself to reassuring families, providing a listening ear and shoulder to cry on.
Alison also helped us to welcome so many new starters, putting them at ease throughout the course of their training and explaining just how everything works around our home. Congratulations Alison!’.
Fairway View is a residential and dementia care home, which is rated ‘OUTSTANDING’ by the Care Quality Commission. If you are interested in current opportunities to work at Fairway View, visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk/careers or contact Home Manager, Gaynor, on 0115 975 8770.