Upper Beeding nursing home win regional care team award

After being finalists in previous years, the team are delighted to have finally won the award.

Manager of Valerie Manor, Zoe Bates, said: “After nearly seven years at Valerie Manor I was so honoured to receive the award with some of my colleagues for the South East Regional Care team of the year.

“It was such a lovely evening and one that I was delighted to share with not only some of the staff but my mum and dad who without them I wouldn’t be here at Valerie Manor.

“I am so proud of the Valerie Manor Care Team I wanted to recognise their hard work and dedication by nominating them for this award on behalf of the relatives and residents here at Valerie Manor. We have a residents meeting once a month and the residents always end the meeting by saying how well cared for and lucky they are to be here.

“The residents are paramount in everything that we do and are involved every step of the way in the planning and running of the home, individual members of the team are always exploring ways in which we can improve the care provided here and work alongside their colleagues to implement new initiatives and changes to meet the every changing needs of our residents.

“I wish everyone could have seen the huge smiles on the residents faces this morning when we proudly took the trophy to show them during breakfast - winning the award not only means so much to the wonderful team here but is so special for the residents.”

Officer manager Alan Fry added: “The Care Team of which I am proud to say I am part of are a truly special group of people. The team have received numerous nominations and been finalists as well, but to win the Care Team of year in the South East region really is a huge achievement and one to be rightly proud of.

“Their dedication and thoughtfulness is not restricted just to the residents but also to the visitors and colleagues”

A relative of a resident at the care home said: “I can honestly say that Zoe and Alison run a very special place. ALL staff, from management to gardeners and cleaners, care for my mum, and I know that I leave her in safe and loving hands when I am not with her. Residents are treated as all the staff would wish their own relatives to be cared for.

“ The facilities are obviously excellent – but that means absolutely nothing without the staff. I only wish that all our elderly people could receive the care that those at Valerie Manor are lucky enough to get.”

Report and pictures contributed by Valerie Manor.