Edinburgh care home shortlisted for prestigious award

A care home in Edinburgh is celebrating after its Home Manager has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Anees Riaz, Home Manager at Care UK’s Lauder Lodge, on Wakefield Avenue, has been nominated for the ‘Registered Manager of the Year’ category in the Leaders in Care Awards 2023.

The Leaders in Care Awards reward excellence and innovation in UK care homes, celebrating the achievements of care providers and the suppliers that serve them. The category Anees is nominated for recognises managers who demonstrate high level of expertise together with exceptional skills in managing person-centred care services.

Anees been recognised for her innovative approach to leadership and commitment to going above and beyond to provide high quality residential, respite and dementia care. 

Encouraging residents to lead fulfilling lives, Anees works closely with the home’s lifestyle team to help grant resident wishes. One wish saw resident Betty co-pilot a plane and another wish saw a resident travel to her native country, Germany. The team also empowers residents to be independent, giving them opportunities to get involved with daily tasks at the home, should they wish to – from helping to run the home’s summer fete to being present in interviews for new team members. 

One relative commented: “Anees is always smiling, her door is always open and she is always very welcoming. Her approach and positive outlook towards the residents is reflected within the team.”

Anees is a crucial part of the management team at Lauder Lodge, and her positive, hands-on attitude extends to colleagues too. Praised endlessly throughout the home, her dedicated approach to leadership ensures team members are equipped with the tools for career progression; with one team member promoted four times under Anees’ leadership. 

Passionate about striving for perfection, Anees has implemented a culture where people feel empowered, an approach reflected in the quality of the care residents receive. In just under two years of being Lauder Lodge’s Home Manager, Anees has taken the home from Care Inspectorate scores of 3 and 4, to strong 5s with positive comments and praise throughout in the most recent inspection.

Commenting on Anees’ positive impact on residents, their families and team members, one team member added: “I have never worked with a manager who is not only there as a Home Manager but as a guardian and support system to all her team and residents. I have never felt so comfortable in a workplace as I do at Lauder Lodge, and this is due to Anees’ diligence, management, leadership and how she empowers her team.”

Anees said: “I’m thrilled to be a finalist in the ‘Registered Manager of the Year’ category at this year’s Leaders in Care Awards 2023. I would like to say a big thank you to each and every member of the team for their ongoing commitment to making Lauder Lodge a fantastic home.”

Michael Doolin, Regional Director at Care UK, said: “We’re delighted that Anees has been announced as a finalist in the ‘Registered Manager of the Year’ category at this year’s Leaders in Care Awards 2023.

“Anees works incredibly hard to support residents to lead fulfilling lives through compassionate, person-centered care and an innovative approach to leadership, and this shortlisting is a wonderful recognition of her dedication. She is constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of residents, inspiring those around her to do the same and she’s pivotal to the home’s ongoing success – we’re keeping our fingers crossed for a win!”

Lauder Lodge is a state-of-the-art care home which provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the care home has its own café and hair salon, and there is plenty of space, both indoors and out, for relaxation and recreation.