Care Award for Katy

A St Monica Trust care worker has been named South West Home Care Worker of the Year in the 2008 Ceretas National Home Care Awards.

Katy Jones took the title for the commitment and excellence she brings to her work at Monica Wills House, the sheltered housing development for 136 residents, run by the Trust in Bedminster, south Bristol.

At just 24, Katy was the youngest winner in the awards, which are open to home care workers from across the country. Dedication to the people she works with, awareness of the needs of her colleagues and commitment to developing her career through training were important criteria for the judges.

Care and Support Manager at Monica Wills House, Helen Hill nominated Katy and she believes Katy has all those things.

Explains Helen, “Katy joined us at the end of 2006, just two weeks before a fire which led to the evacuation of all residents. She played a key role in supporting everyone through that period, but since then has shown even more commitment, working hard to develop her skills, completing an NVQ level 2 and a mentoring course. She is incredibly supportive to staff and residents and even though she is relatively young, has become an exceptionally responsible member of the team. She absolutely deserves this recognition and we’re thrilled by her success.”

Apart from a friendly face and someone to talk to, Katy provides a wide range of support functions all of which help older people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. Her work covers domestic duties such as help with shopping, bathing and dressing, managing finances, paying bills, collecting pensions and making it possible for the people she works with to get out and about to join in social activities.

Sheila Cessford is a resident at Monica Wills House whom Katy cares for on a regular basis. “Katy is a lovely girl,” says Sheila. “She helps me with all kinds of things and has worked hard for her success. We’re all really pleased for her.”

The Trust’s Care and Support Service, originally established to support residents living in the St Monica Trust’s three retirement facilities across Bristol, has now been extended and is available to help local people living in their own homes in Bristol as part of the organisation’s work to help elderly people maximise their quality of life and maintain their independence for as long as possible.

With the final held at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, in London, the Ceretas Annual Home Care Awards aim to promote best practice within home care and to pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence in their field of work. Ceretas, formerly known as the British Association for Domiciliary Care is a membership organisation for people working in home care, irrespective of their position or employer.