Care workers were celebrated at the first ever Care Worker Awards at a Town Hall ceremony on Thursday 28 September. Mayor Philip Glanville was on hand to open the awards and congratulate the care workers for all their hard work.

Over 200 care workers were nominated for the awards, with all nominations made by service users – the people they provide care for.

The submissions were reviewed by a panel led by Cllr Jonathan McShane, Cabinet member for Health, Social Care & Devolution, who was the driving force behind the awards to raise the status and role of care workers in Hackney.

There were two award categories for care workers directly employed by the Council under ‘Housing with care’ and care workers employed by ‘Homecare’ agencies who have a contract with the Council to also provide care services in the Borough. 28 people were shortlisted which also included the 2 overall winners in both categories.

Sahar Gul, aged 50-years-old who works at Morrel Court, a sheltered housing scheme in Haggerston was the overall winner in the ‘Housing with Care’ category. He was nominated by service user Linda Wiles: “He takes his time to calm me down when I am upset or feeling unwell. He makes me feel safe and reassures me that I am going to be okay. He shows a lot of respect and care from the heart. I would recommend him to anyone who needed a carer.”

On his win Sahar Gul said: “I never even thought about awards and was so surprised to be nominated. The work makes me happy because I have helped someone. I looked after my father myself so I can understand people who are in the same situation.”

58-year-old Angela Mitchell who is employed by Aquaflo Care agency in Hackney was the overall winner in the Homecare category. She was nominated by the family of 94-year-old Sidney Hodgson who sadly passed away last month. On being named the overall winner Angela said: “I was really surprised and shocked but really happy. It was wonderful to be nominated and a lovely way to remember Sidney. He was a lovely man to work for. He always respected me and I could see that when I came round his face brightened up. Above all else Sidney always respected me. I love this job because caring for people gives me a buzz. If I make people happy, it makes me happy too.

Sidney’s son Kevin Hodgson, aged 65 travelled over 170 miles from Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire to attend the Care Worker Awards and see Angela receive her trophy and certificate: “I’m really pleased for Angela, it’s a great boost for her. She is so dedicated to her job and it was a great honour and privilege to nominate her. She kept my dad going for 18 months longer than he would have done, had she not been there. She went into hospital every day to see him towards the end because he relied on her so much. She became his family in Hackney when we couldn’t physically be there. She thoroughly deserves it.”

60-year-old Georgina O’Donoghue who suffers from a disability said: “I am delighted that the awards have been launched because it gives me the perfect opportunity to truly show my appreciation of the excellent care I receive particularly from my carer Diana Prospere. Not only does she make my day with her wonderful smile and warm bubbly personality but she really helps me to obtain the independence that I crave for. We’ve built trust up in our relationship over the past 6 months otherwise I’d have given up.”

The Council also signed up to UNISON’s ethical care charter at the awards ceremony. Hackney which is already a London living wage employer has committed to pay the London living wage (currently £9.75 per hour), to replace zero hours contracts with guaranteed hours and to make full payment for travel time between home care visits. The new code abolishes quotas and focuses home care visits on what is in the best interest of the person being cared for and their care worker.

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Ensuring fair employment conditions for care workers is essential if they are to improve the quality of life of the people they look after. UNISON’s ethical care charter highlights the key role that care workers play in society, by fighting to secure the pay and working conditions they deserve.”

Care workers shortlisted in the Housing with Care award category who received a framed certificate:

Ade Courage Edetanlen

Folashade Subair

Nadia Yeboah

Robinah Ssanya

Care workers shortlisted in the Homecare award category who received a framed certificate:

the Homecare category:

Abisoye Okanlawon

Amran Jama

Biliqisu Badru

Charity Quilligan

Elizabeth Omoregie

Heather Dublin

Karreta Bryan

Lea Cannonier

Lucy Daniel

Rabia Beshir Busser

Simon Herbrard

Temiloluwa Adeagbo

Wanda Mateus

Care workers who were runners-up in the Housing with Care category also received a framed certificate:

Hassan Rawat

Janet James

Marcia Bailey Dean

Rose Mundyo Bubi

Care workers who were runners-up in the Homecare category also received a framed certificate:

the Homecare category:

Abisola Esther Bamgbose

Diana Prospere

Lawrence Oluwalana

Marie Bryce

Winner in the Housing with Care category received a trophy and framed certificate:

Sahar Gul

Winner in the Homecare category received a trophy and framed certificate:

Angela Mitchell

Click here for photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/hackneycouncil/albums/72157660978797918