A team of Darlington support workers continue to enjoy awards success, this time by being singled out as ‘Highly Commended’ at the national finals of the Great British Care Awards.
The Making Space Darlington Rapid Response team, who support people in their own homes with a wide range of personalised care, won the North East regional round of the Covid Heroes category at the GBCA’s Newcastle ceremony last year.
And, after missing out on their place at the regional final due to an administrative mix-up, the team were able to attend the glittering Birmingham ceremony to meet celebrity host Peter Andre and take their place in the audience for their well-deserved applause.
The audience heard how the national judges praised the team for their enthusiasm during the height of the Covid pandemic and beyond.
“You couldn’t help but smile at this team, their enthusiasm and creativity shone through,” they remarked.
“They thought outside the box as to how they could support people in need. Their flexibility and responsiveness ensured they were able to move quickly to meet the needs of those who needed to be discharged from hospital. As a result of this, the service has increased in size and we are sure will continue to thrive.”
Rebecca Liddle is the registered service manager for Making Space in Darlington. “I’m so happy that the team were able to take part in this special event,” she says. “They work so hard every day to ensure the people of Darlington receive the care and support they need.
“We’re all thrilled with the judges’ comments. It was such a wonderful experience to be a part of and a memory that will last forever. None of us ever dreamed that we would be congratulated by a celebrity and receive applause from so many people simply for doing the jobs we love.”
The Darlington Rapid Response team are Rebecca Webster, Lauren Stapleton, Amelia Webster, Kirsty Munro, Craig Holborn, Coleen Johnson, Alison Hawksworth, Carol Denman, Beverley Jenkinson, Elaine Wilde, Sharon Dodsworth, Rachel Usher, Courteney Waistell and Sophie Morrison.
The team support people in their homes who need emergency help within a quick timeframe, such as people discharged from hospital or when regular carers aren’t available. Support includes personal care, meal preparations, housework, shopping, prescriptions and collecting medication, often in collaboration with social services and district nurses.
The Great British Care Awards are a celebration of excellence across the care sector. They pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work, from frontline staff such as care workers and care managers to people who have made an impact in other ways such as training and innovation.
Phil Orton is the chief people officer at Making Space. He said of the team’s success: “We’ve been blown away by how many of our Darlington colleagues have been recognised with awards this year – each of them thoroughly deserved.
“There’s no denying that the care sector can be hard work, but these are people who come to work every day with smiles on their faces, ready to do whatever it takes to help improve lives.
“Here at Making Space, we want to congratulate all the GBCA national finalists and winners – each and every one of them is an inspiration.”
