Member Article

Luxury care group hosts inaugural awards gala to celebrate staff achievement and honour colleagues’ memory

Berkley Care Group, a leading luxury, all-inclusive care provider, hosted its first annual gala awards last month (24 February 2023). The event celebrated its team members’ achievements and the excellent care they provide. It also honoured the memory of two colleagues, Leona Waugh and Emma Warwick, who passed away in 2022 and 2021 respectively.

The daytime event, held in The Chesterton Hotel, Oxfordshire, was attended by over 200 guests, including the group’s staff members, suppliers and procurement partners. Those attending enjoyed a drinks reception and a three-course meal. Entertainment came in a variety of forms, including a magician and saxophonist.

The event is the first of its kind to be held by Berkley Care Group and signals a key milestone in the care group’s post-COVID journey. It offered an opportunity for staff to feel valued, to celebrate their achievements, and to meet one another – in some cases for the first time.

The awards were designed to recognise every aspect of the work Berkley’s team carries out each day, from caring and catering to administration and teamwork. There were 14 awards up for grabs in total, including the ‘Berkley Care Star of the Year’. The award this year was given to the Ryefield Court Second Floor Team in recognition of their standout commitment to Berkley’s core values of trust, responsibility and initiative, as well as the positive impact they have had on residents and their loved ones, as well as their colleagues.

Also among the 14 awards were two special awards: the Leona Waugh Carer of the Year Award and the Emma Warwick Award. These awards recognised those who have made a difference to others with their positivity and energy, whilst also paying tribute to Leona and Emma, with Emma’s family attending and participating in the presentation of the award. These were won by Sonia Barnes, Care Assistant from Fernhill House and Carly Cook, Administrator from Badminton Place, respectively.

The judging committee whose responsibility it was to select the winners for each award was made up of representatives from a range of roles across the group, including management, chefs, activities and care team members.

The awards have proven immensely popular among Berkley’s staff. The committee received over 320 nominations from team members, residents, and their families. These resulted in 48 finalists across five teams.

Those entering a nomination were asked to provide a video message explaining why they have nominated that individual. The video submissions were accompanied by good luck messages from team members, residents, and their relatives, so that everyone connected to the nominee could participate in the event.

The motivation for the awards celebration came following staff feedback. It was felt the event would help to cast a spotlight on staff and their fantastic achievements, including those whose work has gone under the radar. The event has proven to be such a resounding success that Berkley has taken the decision to make the gala an annual event.

The event was hosted by Andrew Winstanley, Chief Executive of Berkley Care Group; Leah Smith, Chief HR Officer; Laura Taylor, Chief Operating Officer and Simon Penfold, Chief Financial Officer. They were joined by senior representatives from Korian Group, Berkley’s parent company and Europe’s largest care provider.

The full list of winners was as follows:

• Leona Waugh Carer of the Year: Sonia Barnes, Care Assistant, Fernhill House
• RGN of the Year: Brigitta Haragos, RGN, Leycester House
• Events Person of the Year: Chris Preston, Events Manager, Blenheim House
• Ancillary Person of the Year: Roy Packer, Maintenance Assistant, Blenheim House
• Catering Person of the Year: Melissa Price, Head Chef, Leycester House
• Outstanding Team Member of the Year: Loyce Taylor, Dementia Lead, Cedar Mews
• Team of the Year: Burcot Grange Care Team
• Leader of the Year: Clare Hodges, General Manager, Blenheim House
• Residents and Relatives Choice Award: Victoria Newton-Coombs, Care Assistant, Burcot Lodge
• Making a Difference Award: Shirley Hudson, Care Assistant, Ryefield Court
• New to Care Award: Daisy Barnes, Care Assistant, Shinfield View
• Innovation Award: Abby Evans, Head of Housekeeping, Blenheim House
• Emma Warwick Award: Carly Cook, Administrator, Badminton Place
• Berkley Star of the Year Award: Ryefield Court Second Floor Team

Commenting on the gala, Andrew Winstanley, Chief Executive of Berkley Care Group, said:

“I couldn’t be happier with how the day went. It marked a significant milestone in our post-COVID journey with some staff from different parts of the group being able to meet for the first time. It was also hugely satisfying to be able to reward our hard-working staff. I would like to thank all those involved in the event’s organisation, in particular Leah Smith. It was also very touching to mark Leona Waugh and Emma Warwick’s memory, especially in the case of Emma Warwick with her mother and sisters alongside us.

“The event has proven a powerful symbol of the importance of our employees. It came about specifically because of our efforts to listen to our team members and to better understand their needs and aspirations. With the current recruitment challenges the sector is facing, having your finger on the pulse of what your staff need has never been more important. It was through that dialogue we learned that while remuneration is important, recognition ranked higher among our employees’ needs.

“I can’t wait for next year’s event!”

Also commenting, Leah Smith, Chief HR Officer, on leading the gala, said:

“It made me very proud to play a part in hosting this event, particularly given everything that our tremendous staff have been through over the last few years. I am delighted that everyone got a chance to meet face to face and connect with each other. I would like to thank those who helped put the event together and all the attendees. I am positive that this event will be the first of many and that we can have more success as a care group for years to come!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Eleanor Thomas .