HC-One Colleagues jubilant in winning two awards at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards 2021HC-One were triumphant in being crowned the winners in two award categories at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards 2021, that took place at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 1st April 2022. 

The Caledonian Korsakoff Unit at HC-One’s Hillside View Care Home in Glenburn, Paisley in Renfrewshire were successful in winning the Specialist Service/Unit of the Year Award, and Caitriona Morrison, Nursing Assistant at HC-One’s Blar Buidhe in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, was named the winner of the Carer of the Year Award.

The Caledonian Korsakoff Unit at Hillside View Care Home was nominated by Home Manager, Katy Jenks. The unit was selected as the winner of this award category as they have demonstrated that they provide the specific skills needed to manage and deliver services sensitive to the needs of older people with dementia, alongside other specialist conditions and client groups. 

Colleagues working in the unit have demonstrated how they have made a difference to individuals through the specialist care services they provide. Colleagues have shown a passion for improving care and the lives of people with specialist needs and demonstrate excellence and innovation in developing their care provision at Hillside View Care Home. 

Caitriona Morrison better known to most people as ‘Tina’, is originally from Leverburgh in Harris and now lives in Eoropie, Ness. Caitriona joined the home ten years ago, originally as a Care Assistant before progressing to becoming a Senior Care Assistant after achieving her SVQ 2 and 3 qualifications before becoming a Nursing Assistant. She was nominated for the award by Home Manager, Donald McIntosh who describes her as having a gregarious personality which shines through in her interactions with Colleagues, Relatives and Residents. 

The awards saw Caitriona officially recognised as Scotland’s top carer of 2021 when she stepped up to receive a trophy and certificate at the awards ceremony in recognition of the invaluable contribution that she makes to lives of Residents and their loved ones at Blar Buidhe. Caitriona was selected as the winner of this award category, as she had been recognised for providing a consistent high-quality standard of care for Residents living at the home, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Caitriona has shown that she is able to remain calm and see the positives in any situation. She also understands and demonstrates treating each person as an individual by delivering a personalised service. She helps people to be more independent wherever possible. She is also aware of her own personal development and looks for opportunities to absorb knowledge, attend training sessions and advance her skills. Caitriona uses her initiative and involves Residents and their Relatives/Carers in the development of their loved one’s care.

Jackie McDonald, Interim Managing Director for Scotland, stated: 
“I am extremely proud of both the Korsakoff Unit at Hillside View and Caitriona winning in their respective award categories at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards! They are fabulous, and they really deserve this recognition. 

“I’m delighted that we also had two other HC-One Colleagues and teams from our other care homes in Scotland who were finalists in other categories at the well esteemed awards. 

“The pandemic has presented many challenges for our Colleagues and care homes, but it has also highlighted the amazing work our Colleagues do in our homes, especially during the challenges of the pandemic. Our Colleagues have worked together to do so much to help, support and care for our Residents living in our care homes. 

“Being named as winners and finalists acknowledges their hard work and the kind care that they have shown to each other, Residents and Relatives, as well as the dedication and passion they show every day to ensure the people they support receive the best quality care. The awards highlighted their acts of kindness, the great work they are doing in our homes and have provided us with a chance to say thank you to them for the selfless work they continue to do every single day.”

The award evening was hosted by Scottish Care’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Donald Macaskill plus Pop Idol winner and Scottish singer, Michelle McManus and celebrated the very best people working in the care sector who go above and beyond to provide consistent exceptional care, as well as celebrating the achievements of Residents.

HC-One were delighted to have four finalists in total at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards this year. The finalists were chosen in recognition of their hard work and kind care shown to Residents, Relatives and Colleagues as well as the dedication and passion they show every day to ensure the people they support receive the best quality care. 

James Tugendhat, HC-One’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: 
“Congratulations to Caitriona at Blar Buidhe and everyone at the Korsakoff Unit at Hillside View Care Home - this is a tremendous achievement, and we are incredibly proud of them all!

“Caitriona and the Korsakoff Unit team’s success at this year’s prestigious Scottish Care National Care Home Awards is a testament to the dedication they have shown to their Colleagues and Residents, even in the most challenging of times. They have truly gone above and beyond to provide the kindest care to Residents living in our care homes and support to Colleagues, Relatives, and those within the local community, supporting our mission to be the first-choice care provider in each of the communities that we serve.”

At the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards evening, HC-One were proud to sponsor the ‘Carer of the Year Award Category’. An award presented to an individual who had shown exceptional kind care to Residents’, helping them to maintain their independence and choice, whilst respecting, always delivering person centred care and dignity.

Caitriona and Hillside View’s Caledonian Korsakoff Unit’s accolade and success in winning at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards is a true testament to the team’s kind nature to deliver care to those living in our care homes. 

The latest awards success in Scotland follows 20 HC-One homes being recognised in the Top 20 Carehome.co.uk Awards last year. Nine HC-One Scottish homes scooped a Top 20 Care Home Award in Scotland, meaning that 45% of the Top 20 homes in Scotland are HC-One homes. Carehome.co.uk is the UK's leading care home directory. Its annual Care Home Awards recognise 20 of the top-rated care homes in each region of the UK and are based on individual review scores that carehome.co.uk has received from Residents, their loved ones and service users, as of 30th June 2021.