Watch me whip! Head Chef at Ipswich care home scoops national award

A care home in Ipswich is celebrating after its Head Chef was recognised at a national award ceremony for her outstanding contribution to the catering sector.

Caroline Lloyd, Head Chef at Care UK’s Prince George House, on Mansbrook Boulevard, took home first place for ‘Unsung Hero’ at the 2023 Public Sector Catering Awards.

The Public Sector Catering Awards recognises those working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector, as well as within the wider community, including universities, hospitals and armed forces.

Caroline, who joined the home in 2013, received praise for her resident-centred approach, with catering plans constantly evolving to meet each residents’ needs. Each day Caroline and the catering team provide delicious, nutritious food. The choice and diversity of the menu is driven from feedback from residents to ensure that they are offered meals they want. 

As part of its dining experience, the home regularly hosts themed meals and events. This has included a Valentine’s Day party complete with a three-course gourmet meal and beautifully decorated cake to celebrate the couples at Prince George House and their spouses.

Caroline is also committed to the home’s ‘Dining with Dignity’ initiative, where residents with special dietary requirements are fully catered for in a discreet and respectful manner. The role that Caroline plays in ensuring this is carried out is vital, and includes supporting the training and development of colleagues too. 

Judges noted Caroline’s dedication to consistently putting residents first. Over the Christmas period in 2021, to ensure residents were kept safe from the transmission of Covid-19 and could be cooked for over the festive season, Caroline’s self-imposed isolation meant that she sacrificed spending Christmas with her family – cooking up quite the storm as she prepared 120 Christmas dinners with the help of a kitchen assistant.

Commenting on the win, Caroline said: “I’m over the moon to have scooped first place in the Public Sector Catering Awards this year. I’m so proud of the team and all of their continuous hard work – we take great pride in delivering the best dishes for the residents here at Prince George House and we’re thrilled to see this recognised with a national award.”

 Magda Kurdziel, Home Manager at Prince George House, added: “I’m incredibly proud of Caroline and the wider catering team, who consistently a provide high quality service and fantastic meals that the residents always look forward to – residents are always quick to the dining room when we they can smell what’s cooking!  

“Everyone here at Prince George House is delighted that Caroline’s talent for creating delicious meals and willingness to go above and beyond for residents and fellow team members has been recognised, and that she deservingly took home first place for unsung hero – well done Caroline!”

Prince George House is a modern purpose-built care home providing full-time residential, nursing, and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has a choice of lounges and dining rooms, along with facilities such as an activity room, cinema and hair salon.

For more information about Prince George House, please contact Customer Relations Manager, Julie Dennis, on 01473 852964, email julie.dennis@careuk.com or visit: careuk.com/prince-george-house