Passion for nursing brings award for Islington carer

Home news

Nov 26, 2014

A passion for caring for others has brought Lia Smochina, deputy manager of Care UK’s Highbury New Park care home, an award for her dedication and commitment.

Lia, who has worked at the care home in Islington for five years, was nominated for the Nurse of the Year award by home manager Nayyereh Shiva Sheikholeslami. She said: “Lia has a passion for nursing and healthcare. Not only is she a full-time deputy manager, she regularly helps to cover the units when the nurses are not available for any reason. Because of her great flexibility and commitment, we never need to call an agency nurse to cover our shifts and this benefits our residents.”

The Nurse of the Year award is given to a nurse who demonstrates outstanding practice, is committed to improving standards and who is an inspirational role model to others.

Judging the awards, which are open to all of Care UK’s 114 care homes, chief operating officer Carole Hunt said: “Lia was nominated by her home manager and the community clinical nurse specialist in palliative care. She started caring at the age of 14 in Romania and has worked as a nurse all her professional life.

“She demonstrates a true passion for nursing and healthcare, constantly seeking ways to improve her own practice and knowledge. She shows great flexibility and commitment to Highbury New Park care home and she is highly respected by her colleagues and Islington Social Services and this led to her being nominated for the council’s Dignity Award in 2014,”

Lia, who is currently studying for her Diploma Level 5 in Health and Social Care, received her award at the Residential Care Services dinner on Thursday 20 November. She said: “This is a real honour. I love our residents and I love my work. I think we have a great team at Highbury New Park, which makes my job so pleasurable and a great group of residents which helps to make it fun and rewarding.”