Amberley Lodge wins highly commended award

Home news

Jul 17, 2019

Amberley Lodge is celebrating having won the High Commended spot in the ‘Best Maintenance Team’ category at a national award ceremony.

The Care Home Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation for UK care home management, operation and delivery. 

Amberley Lodge won the highly commended runner up prize in the ‘Best Maintenance Team’ category, thanks to maintenance manager, Harry Sharrard.

Harry was praised for his first-class technical skills, immaculate paperwork, and carefully prepared project plans. Judges were also impressed by a game he has devised for residents when he does the weekly fire alarm tests, making something mundane and a little intrusive into a much-enjoyed bit of fun. The game consists of residents counting how long the alarm sounds for. Sometimes he’ll do extra rings to catch them out and make them laugh.

The home was also nominated for ‘Best for Specialist Care’, owing to the team’s knowledge and understanding of each resident, which means they respond quickly to an individual’s changing care needs. 

The home currently holds the Gold Standards Framework, which is an accreditation for End of Life Care. The framework gives outstanding training to all those providing the care, to ensure recognised standards and better lives for people.

Azalea Moses, home manager at Amberley Lodge, said: “We are thrilled to have won the highly commended spot in the‘Best Maintenance Team’ category and to have been shortlisted for ‘Best for Specialist Care’. Harry truly is one of a kind and we’re so lucky to have him here at Amberley Lodge.

“He goes above and beyond to make sure the home is a safe and warm place to live, and I know all the residents light up when they see him walking around the home. Thank you, Harry, for all that you do – I’m so pleased you have been recognised in this award!”

Commenting on the awards, Care UK’s CEO for residential care, Andrew Knight said: “The recognition Care UK has received at the National Care awards is testament to the incredible hard work and dedication shown by our colleagues around the country, and our shared vision of enabling residents to live fulfilling lives. 

“Getting to the final stage of national awards like these is fantastic, let alone coming home with so many wins. I’d like to congratulate everyone – I’m proud to lead such a positive and forward-thinking workforce.”