Caitriona Morrison, Nursing Assistant at HC-One’s
Blar Buidhe in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles, a nursing dementia, and nursing care home, was named the winner of the ‘Carer of the Year Award’ category at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards 2021, that took place at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Friday 1st April 2022.
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.
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 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.
Caitriona Morrison, Nursing Assistant at Blar Buidhe Care Home, winner of the Carer of the Year Award at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards 2021, said:
“To be acknowledged out of thousands of health care workers in Scotland for my work over the years, and receiving an award for it, has really made me feel so blessed to have such a wonderful experience with so many different people.
“Thank you so much for the lovely messages from everyone and thank you Blar Buidhe for nominating me.”
Jackie McDonald, Interim Managing Director for Scotland, stated:
“I am extremely proud of Caitriona winning the Carer of the Year Award! She is a fabulous Nursing Assistant, and really deserves this recognition.
“I’m delighted that we also had an additional winner, and two other HC-One Colleagues and teams from across our care homes in Scotland who were finalists in a variety of different categories at the well esteemed Scottish Care National Care Home Awards 2021.
“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.”
James Tugendhat, HC-One’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Congratulations to Caitriona at Blar Buidhe Care Home - this is a tremendous achievement, and we are incredibly proud of her!
“Caitriona’s success at this year’s prestigious Scottish Care National Care Home Awards is a testament to the dedication she has shown to her Colleagues and Residents, even in the most challenging of times. Caitriona has truly gone above and beyond to provide the kindest care to Residents living in Blar Buidhe Care Home 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.”
HC-One were delighted to have four finalists 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. Two of the four finalists were successful in going on to win in their respective categories – the Caledonian Korsakoff Unit at Hillside View in the ‘Specialist Service/Unit of the Year’ Award category and Caitriona Morrison, Nursing Assistant at Blar Buidhe Care Home in the ‘Carer of the Year Award’ category.
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 and always delivering person centred care and dignity.
Caitriona’s accolade and success in winning the Carer of the Year Award at the Scottish Care National Care Home Awards is a true testament to her kind nature to delivering care to those living at Blar Buidhe.
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.