Oxfordshire Care Awards 2023

17/11/22

The annual Oxfordshire Care Awards recognises and celebrates individuals, organisations and companies who have demonstrated excellence within the care sector in Oxfordshire. The Awards bring together unpaid carers, the community/voluntary sector, and statutory and independent care providers.

The awards are hosted by Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP), Carers Oxfordshire and Age UK Oxfordshire, the awards ceremony will take place on Monday 24th April 2023 at Voco Oxford Thames Hotel.

Nominations are now open

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised and celebrated for providing outstanding care? Nominate them to celebrate their dedication and commitment and help raise the profile of caring across Oxfordshire.

Nominations can be made online via the OACP website. Alternatively, you can download and complete this nomination form and write a supporting statement of 100 to 300 words. Email the form and statement to awards@oacp.org.uk, or post them to:

Oxfordshire Care Awards 2023,
c/o Age UK Oxfordshire
9 Napier Court,
Barton Lane,
Abingdon OX14 3YT

Shortlisted nominees will be published on the OACP website. Nominators will be advised if their nominee has won an award and invited to attend the ceremony.

Nominations must be received by 5 pm on Friday 31st March 2023. Winners will be announced at the ceremony and will appear on the OACP website.

Categories

The Newcomer to Care Award – seeks to acknowledge and celebrate a new member of staff in the care sector, who has shown empathy and responsiveness and fully understands good practice.

The Care Home Worker Award – recognises the significant role of the Care Home Worker in consistently providing high-quality residential care.

The Unpaid Carer – is for someone who gives their time, energy, and skill to ensure that people have a better experience of care, and feel they matter.

The Volunteer Award – recognises someone whose commitment and longevity to voluntary work has contributed to and enhanced the wellbeing of the local community or has made a difference to an individual/s quality of life.

The Community/Home Care Worker Award – recognises the significant role of the Community/Home Care Worker in consistently providing high-quality care for people living in their own homes.        

The Care Team Award – presented to the team that can best demonstrate a shared vision and agreed goals. The team should have a leader whose role is known and accepted and who takes personal responsibility for their tasks. They must demonstrate a commitment to dignity and privacy for clients and respect for team members.

The Care Employer Award – is for the whole company or organisation that acknowledges and celebrates an employer’s commitment to care and how this achieves success in delivering an excellent service.

The Long-Term Service Award – recognises the long-term service of an employee who has made an outstanding contribution to a Care organisation (min. service period ten years). Who has passionately made a significant difference to the organisation.

The Leadership Award – for a care team or service leader, who has shown a strong personal commitment to treating their service users and staff with dignity and respect.

The Inspiration Award – an organisation or business (that is not a health or care company) that inspires others with its high standards of care, support and compassion. For example, a community group, shop, or library, that goes out of its way to assist individuals who need extra support in their daily life.

Josie’s Award – Josie Smith was a remarkable force for good in the lives of people around her, especially people who needed care and support. This award celebrates an individual who makes exceptional difference to dignity in care.

2022 winners

Left to right: Val Wolsey and Kay Francis, Head of Carer Support Services at Carers Oxfordshire.

At the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022, Val Wolsey won The Unpaid Carer /Volunteer Worker Award for the outstanding support she provides unpaid carers in Wallingford. Val has run the Wallingford Carers Support Group for over ten years, single-handedly. She organises everything including hiring the church, securing essential funding, volunteers, marketing, administration, and guest speakers.

Left to right: Eddy McDowall, CEO of Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP) and Andy Kessler.

Andy Kessler from Stowford House Care Home won The Care Home Worker Care Award for constantly going above and beyond his maintenance role. During the pandemic, he created a beautiful commemorative stained-glass window in memory of the residents lost.

Left to right: Sharon Robb, Barbara Wright, and Margaret Villamuera are the main Alive and Kicking organizers pictured with their award.

Three ladies from Jericho’s Alive and Kicking group for the over-50s, won the highly commended Unpaid Carer /Volunteer Worker Award, for their work in organising activities for older residents.

Councillor Susann Pressel said “I nominated them for the award because they are so very kind and helpful to the older people in Jericho, especially when they are ill or house-bound. They also visit people in hospital or when they move into a care home.”

If you would like to get involved or need more information about the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2023 please email jane.wood@oacp.org.uk, call 01235 248087 or visit www.oacp.org.uk.