HC-One’s Lawra Baumane has been shortlisted as a finalist at two well-respected awards. Lawra has been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Best Dementia Care Inspiring Leader’ category at the National Dementia Care Awards 2022 and ‘The Workforce Development Award’ category at the South West Region of the Great British Care Awards 2022.
Lawra has been nominated for her work as a National Quality of Life Specialist at HC-One, who operate c.300 care homes across the UK including those offering nursing and residential dementia care services.
Lawra has been named as a finalist in the ‘Best Dementia Care Inspiring Leader’ category at the National Dementia Care Awards - an award that recognises inspirational dementia leaders who inspire Colleagues by teaching or by personal example, to go above and beyond and provide outstanding care in any dementia-focused environment. Lawra has been selected as a finalist in this category due to demonstrating exceptional leadership skills and the ability to support, develop and motivate staff as well as providing an inclusive, successful and positive workspace for those living with dementia, Relatives and the wider community.
Lawra has also been shortlisted as a finalist in ‘The Workforce Development Award’ category at the South West Region of the Great British Care Awards 2022 due to showing incredible enthusiasm and determination in identifying training and development needs of Wellbeing Coordinators working in HC-One care homes. Lawra has created and established rolling training programmes, searching for and gaining funding where needed and showing enthusiasm to energise Colleagues to attend and request training to progress in their careers and deliver a high quality of life as well as care to Residents.
Having joined HC-One originally as a Wellbeing Coordinator in October 2013, before progressing to her current role as Quality of Life Specialist in January 2020, Lawra’s positive attitude, compassion, enthusiasm, knowledge and passion are inspirational. Her work style is one that promotes inclusion and commitment from those whose lives she touches, and she is responsible for many happy Residents and Colleagues.
Lawra assisted with the implementation of a comprehensive wellbeing pilot to assess the effectiveness of the new HC-One wellbeing programme. Proving Lawra’s willingness to listen to those around her, this pilot incorporated a number of ideas that had come from Colleagues, including the ‘Stop the Clock’ initiative, where Colleagues across homes took time out of their day not to deliver care, but to spend one to one time with Residents doing individual-led activities.
Whilst the pandemic has posed many challenges for Colleagues to safely provide wellbeing activities within HC-One care homes, Lawra has worked hard to provide alternative ideas for Residents to stay happy and well. Lawra has rolled out a number of initiatives across HC-One care homes and adapted a number of wellbeing activities to be delivered safely and align with bringing physical, mental and emotional stimulation to all Residents receiving different levels of care and of different abilities and mobilities. Lawra provides homes with a monthly ‘Wellbeing Matters’ newsletter which outlines key events, ideas, resources and activities to do with Residents in the homes.
Hearing of the news of her being shortlisted as a finalist at two awards, Lawra Baumane, Quality of Life Specialist at HC-One, said:
“It is an honour to be nominated for not just one but two awards. It’s amazing to be recognised by my fellow Colleagues who inspire me every day.”
The National Dementia Care Awards 2022 celebrate, reward and recognise the importance of the best people working with people living with dementia, their Relatives, carers and/or Colleagues. The National Dementia Care Awards have been a massive success over the past twelve years, ran by the Journal of Dementia Care (JDC). The awards are returning this year as a live event on the 29th September 2022 and are being held within the grounds of Winchester Cathedral where the winners will be announced at a Gala Awards lunch.
The series of Regional Great British Care Award events are taking place throughout the UK and celebrate those individuals who demonstrate excellence within the care sector. The awards pay tribute to those who have shown outstanding skills and talent within their field of work across 23 different award categories. The South West Region of the Great British Care Awards will be taking place on Saturday 26th November at Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol. Successful winners at the South West regional awards will progress to the national finals of the Great British Care Awards 2023 taking place on Friday 17th March 2023 at the ICC in Birmingham.