Clare Leonard, home manager of Appleby Care Home in North Shields has been recognised among the best in the North East with a shortlist place for a prestigious care sector award.
The judges of the Great British Care Awards have declared Clare a finalist for the ‘Care Home Manager Award’ for their regional awards evening in Newcastle on 10th November.
Designed as a glittering celebration of social care staff and their achievements, the Great British Care Awards consist of a series of regional finals across the United Kingdom. The winners of each regional final go on to compete for the national title in each category at the national final in Birmingham in early 2023.
Talking about her nomination, Clare said: “I was shocked and overwhelmed when I heard that I was nominated for the Great British Care Awards! I am proud to work in a company that is supportive and cares about its employees. I don’t look at my role as a job, it is a vocation and a career which I love. It is an absolute honour to have been nominated for such a prestigious award and I still can’t believe it!”
Clare’s nomination for the Great British Care Awards North East comes following a successful year for Appleby Care Home. In the spring, Clare achieved the sought-after NIHR Greenshoots Award which opened the door to specialist funding for research trials in the home and state-of-the-art training for the nursing team. Clare is the first care home manager in England to achieve the Greenshoots award and the title of principal investigator.
During October, Clare also achieved a finalist place in the Registered Manager of the Year (North) category at the national Leaders in Care Awards in Birmingham.
In addition, the home has built a strong staff team, significantly reducing agency costs during the year and providing excellent continuity of care for the people they support. All of this has been possible despite a care sector-wide recruitment crisis.
Alison Boote, operations director for Larchwood Care said: “It has been such a great year for the team at Appleby and Clare’s nomination for the Great British Care Awards is the icing on the cake. Her wonderful achievement with the Greenshoots Award demonstrates what a motivated and passionate individual Clare is. I’m so pleased that she’s been recognised among the best in care in the North East!”
The winners of the Great British Care Awards North East will be announced at a gala evening at Gosforth Park, Newcastle on 10th November.
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