Our awards

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Experts in award-winning care

Individual colleagues, whole teams – and Care UK itself – regularly make it on to the podium at national awards in recognition of our sector-leading care

We are proud to be the most awarded care home provider for the last two years, with more outstanding rated homes than any other provider, as rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care Inspectorate in Scotland.

Suffolk Care Awards Winner 2021

WINNER in three categories

We are so pleased to be able to share the news that Care UK picked up three winner’s trophies at the 2021 Suffolk Care Awards as well as being shortlisted in two other categories at the same awards.

Apprentice of the Year – Julie Mee, Mills Meadow care home in Framlingham
Team of the Year – Housekeeping Team, Asterbury Place care home in Ipswich
Inspirational Leadership – Jennie Rodger, Prince George House in Ipswich

Also shortlisted in the same awards were Franny Larke from Cedrus House in Stowmarket and Caroline Ramsey from Asterbury Place.

Our congratulations to all our winners and to those from the other Suffolk social care providers and projects. We can’t wait for the 2022 awards.

NAPA Member Awards 2021

Shortlisted in TWO categories

The NAPA Member Awards recognise individuals who are innovative and creative in the way they meet the needs of the people they support. We were thrilled to find out that two of our home teams have made it through to the finals.

The Perry Manor Lifestyle Team has been shortlisted for the Best Activity Team Award. Judges were impressed by the team’s enthusiasm and ability to understand each resident as an individual, using different activities to create fun and enjoyment for all. With careful planning and detail, the team have successfully created a lifestyle programme that can adapt to whoever comes to live at the home. Namaste care is a significant part of home life as is the wishing tree – the team sees every wish as a privilege to make come true.

At Sherwood Grange, Lifestyle Lead Kimberley Atkin and her team have been shortlisted in the Arts in Care Homes Award which is thoroughly deserved given some of the most recent success residents have had in art competitions and the like. Just some examples include their win in the SSAFA Armed Forces Charity VE Day 75 competition and having four artworks auctioned raising £500 for an NHS Charity auction. Residents can be seen to bubble with enthusiasm when they are working on a specific arts project, it dominates mealtime conversations and inspires creativity and healthy competition between them.

Best of luck to both our finalists who will find out at the virtual awards ceremony on 1st October if they have won.

National Care Awards Winner 2021 - Care Home of the Year

WINNER - Care Home of the Year, Davers Court

We were also nominated for the below categories at the National Care Awards:

Care Home Group (over 10 settings) - Care UK
Care Chef - William Carpenter, Invicta Court
Care Newcomer - Shelley Lacey, Armstrong House
Care Leadership - Eileen Coyle-Jones

LaingBuisson Award Winner 2021 - Residential Care Provider of the Year

2021 LaingBuisson Large Residential Care Provider of the Year – Winner

These awards are one of the most prestigious in the health and social care sector and we are absolutely thrilled to have picked up the top award in this category. We understand that the organisers had a record number of entries this year and we had some strong competition from well known providers like Barchester Healthcare and Anchor.

Our win recognises our commitment to quality, engagement and growth. Ours is among one of the most engaged care teams in the sector and we have invested to ensure that each of our colleagues meets their professional potential.

Through engaged and enthusiastic teams we are able to deliver an award-winning level of care to residents, which is reflected in the fact that we have the highest number of Outstanding-rated homes of all the larger care providers in the country and maintain high rates of satisfaction.

We are also proactive adopters of technology and innovation to ensure residents live their best life, and this too is recognised in our shortlisting for this prestigious award.

LaingBuisson Award Winner 2021 - Property Developer of the Year

2021 LaingBuisson Property Developer of the Year – winner

It may seem a little unusual that Care UK has won the Property Developer of the Year category in one of the most prestigious award schemes of its kind. Until you realise that Care UK has opened more new care homes than any other provider.

The win recognises the fact that Care UK has opened 58 new homes over the past decade with another dozen in various stages of planning and construction. Each new build is custom designed in association with professional advisers who work closely with our operational teams, drawing on their knowledge of what makes an outstanding home.

This investment helps to deliver thousands more care home places for local people – in homes that are carefully designed to promote independence, be lovely places to live and visit and to be great places for people to work.

Care Home Awards Winner 2021 - Best Larger Care Home Group

2021 WINNERS in FOUR categories!

We are thrilled to announce that Care UK won FOUR awards at the 2021 Care Home Awards, and were highly commended in a further four categories!

Best Larger Care Home Group - WINNER
Best Individual Care Home or Care Community, Davers Court - WINNER
Best New Care Home, Bickerton House care home - WINNER
Best for Sporting, Social or Leisure Activities, Sherwood Grange Care Home - WINNER
Best Care Home Marketing, Advertising or PR Campaign – highly commended
Best for Recruitment, Motivation and Staff Retention – highly commended
Best for Training and Development, Perry Manor Care Home – highly commended
Best for Nursing Care, Hollins Park – highly commended

2021 FINALIST in SEVENTEEN categories!

The Care Home Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the care home sector in the UK. In a strong field representing social care providers from across the country we are so pleased to be shortlisted as finalists in seventeen categories at this year’s awards including; Best Larger Care Home Group and Best for Use of Technology

National Association of Care Catering Awards Winner 2021 - Catering Team of the Year

WINNER - Catering Team of the Year

Congratulations to our food services team who won Catering Team of the Year at the 2021 National Association of Care Catering awards.

National Apprenticeship Awards Finalist 2021

FINALISTS in TWO categories

Employer of the year

Apprenticeship Champion of the year

Public Sector Catering Awards 2021 winner

Public Sector Catering Awards Winner 2021 - Catering Manager of the Year

Care UK’s senior chef and nutrition expert Andrew Mussett has been named as the national Catering Manager of the Year 2021 in the prestigious Public Sector Catering Awards.

WINNER - Catering Manager of the Year 2021

Care UK’s senior chef and nutrition expert Andrew Mussett has been named as the national Catering Manager of the Year 2021 in the prestigious Public Sector Catering Awards.

These awards are open to everyone working in catering establishments around the country that are linked to a public service including educational settings, care homes, hospitals and universities.

Andrew joined Care UK six years ago and since then has played an important role in developing the skills of our kitchen teams and chefs, inspiring catering teams and residents alike with activities like the annual Christmas cake competition. He also helped to run our food reminiscence project earlier this year which saw the BBC presenter and food historian Dr Polly Russell deliver an online talk for residents about the history of food accompanied by an eight course tasting menu.

Additionally Care UK’s Food and Hotel Services Team was a finalist in the Care Catering Award category of the same awards.

Social Care Top Leaders Awards Finalist 2021

We are delighted that our Chief Executive Andrew Knight has been selected as one of only 30 people in the Social Care Top Leaders awards for 2021.

Andrew is joined by a prestigious group of other leaders including Professor Deborah Sturdy, the NHS Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and Caroline Abrahams, Director of Age UK as well as CEOS of other social care providers.

Voting to choose the number one leader is open to everyone until the end of September 2021 and the overall winner will be announced on 27th October 2021.

Vote here

Care Home Professional Power List 2021

Three of our senior management team have made it to the Care Home Professional Power List 2021, the authoritative list of who’s who in the care sector.

Andrew Knight, Chief Executive, has been recognised for his leadership during a transformative decade for Care UK. Chris Hopkinson, Operations Director –South and Geoff Edwards, Operations Director – North, have both been selected for their tireless commitment to quality and outstanding leadership during the pandemic.
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UK Employee Experience Awards 2021 Bronze Winner - Employee Training and Development, Empowering Programme

“This is the second year in a row that we have won at the UK Employee Experience Awards. We were thrilled when we heard we had won this year after being up against so many major household name employers.

“We are trusted by families to care for around 6,500 residents, mostly older people, many living with dementia. Engaged and highly trained colleagues are our greatest strength, so supporting our talented teams by giving them the chance to grow and meet their career ambitions is our focus. It results in all the teams delivering the highest quality care.

“I think winning such a major award demonstrates our commitment to developing fulfilling careers for everyone that works for Care UK.”

2021 BRONZE AWARD WINNER Employee Training and Development - Empowering Programme

The UK Employee Experience Awards reward outstanding initiatives that have improved the world of work. Top organisations realise that enhancing the employee experience leads to happier colleagues and better customer experience. These awards are here to recognise that progress and are open to any employer in the country – from banks to airlines.

We were the only social care organisation shortlisted in the Employee Training and Development – Empowering Programme category and we were delighted to win the bronze award. Judges recognised our commitment to all colleagues in developing a fulfilling career through our offering of clear career pathways, inductions, apprenticeships and development programmes. We strongly believe that all colleagues should be given the opportunity to achieve their potential no matter what their role is.

Dementia Hero Awards Finalist 2021 - Professional Excellence

2021 FINALIST – Dementia Hero Award for Professional Excellence – Care UK

The Dementia Hero Awards 2021 showcase the stories of people and teams doing outstanding things during the pandemic.

We are delighted that the joint working between our Approach to Care team and the teams in every single one of our homes has been rewarded with this prestigious shortlisting.

Being recognised for developing innovative tools and training to enable our teams to deliver outstanding, person-centred dementia care, plus our implementation of programmes like Namaste care is such an achievement for us.

We look forward to finding out if we have won at the virtual awards ceremony on Thursday 20th May.

Health Investor Awards Finalist 2021 - Residential Care Provider of the Year AND Property Developer of the Year

“The past year has been a challenging time for care home teams, residents and their relatives so to find out that we’ve been shortlisted in two categories of these awards is a real credit to everyone that has pulled together to continue to deliver excellent care despite the pandemic.”

Andrew Knight, CEO

2021 FINALIST in TWO award categories:

Care Home Provider of the Year

Property Developer of the Year

Our recent achievements have been recognised with two shortlistings at the Health Investor Awards. These awards promote excellence and recognise outstanding performance and innovation in the independent healthcare sector.

Our substantial programme of building new care homes and investment in our current homes has seen us become finalists in the Property Developer of the Year category whilst our sustained focus on providing outstanding quality care was recognised by the judges who have shortlisted us in the Residential Care Provider of the Year category.

We are looking forward to finding out if we have won on 13th September 2021.

Care Home Awards Winner 2020 - Best Larger Care Home Group

“The last six months have been an incredible challenge for the sector and the pandemic continues to test us all. This achievement is testament to the incredible dedication of all our Care UK colleagues who have worked so hard throughout this difficult time as they have continued to provide the best quality care for residents whilst supporting each other.

“Receiving so many awards is fantastic. I’d like to congratulate everyone and I’m proud to work with such a passionate, caring and forward-thinking group of people.”

Andrew Knight CEO

2020 WINNER for SEVEN awards and HIGHLY COMMENDED in two categories

We are delighted to have won the overall gold trophy for the Best Larger Care Home Group at The Care Home Awards for the second year running.

The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the care home sector in the UK. In a strong field representing social care providers from across the country we fought off tough competition to achieve this plus six further wins and two high commendations:

The close bonds that the Cheviot Court team in South Shields have with residents saw them win the Best for Specialist Care award.

The team at Muriel Street in Islington won Best for Sporting, Social or Leisure Activities for their passion in supporting residents to live meaningful lives.

Millers Grange team in Witney won the Best for Architecture, Interior Design or Communal Spaces in recognition of the home’s contemporary dementia-friendly design.

The Namaste care programme at Whitefarm Lodge in Twickenham saw them win in the Best for Non-Clinical Facilities category.

Tor-Na-Dee’s sensory gardens provide meaningful activity for both residents and their families and helped them scoop the award for Best Garden or Outdoor Space at the Aberdeen home.

Care UK’s Ride800 campaign won the Best Care Home Marketing, Advertising or PR Campaign with judges recognising our focus on the importance of movement and exercise in promoting health and wellbeing as well as raising over £45,000 for three charities.

The team at Skylark House in Horsham was highly commended for being the Best Individual Care Home in a Group.

As Care UK’s first newly built home to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ CQC inspection rating on its first inspection, the team at Mercia Grange in Sutton Coldfield received highly commended recognition for Best New Care Home.

LaingBuisson Awards Finalist 2020

2020 FINALIST Large Residential Care Provider

The LaingBuisson Awards are widely considered to be the Oscars of health and social care, recognising the most inspiring and innovative work in the sector.

The Residential Care Provider award pays tribute to organisations that have demonstrated outstanding residential or nursing care, with a focus on engagement with residents. So we are delighted that our commitment to outstanding care and investment in our care homes has seen us through to the finals of these prestigious awards.

We will be keeping our fingers crossed that we win at the awards ceremony in April.

National Association of Care Catering Awards Finalist 2020

“I am delighted that all three of us have reached the finals. Our commitment ensures that residents have dignity, choice and great food that not only looks and tastes as one would expect from fine dining, but that also has the nutritional content to support individual dietary needs. We strive to make a positive impact on residents’ health and wellbeing through nutrition and hydration - whether it’s fortifying meals or ensuring that foods made of a texture that’s easier to swallow appear similar to other diners’ meals while being safe, well-presented and appetising.”

2020 WINNER in TWO categories

The National Association of Care Catering Awards recognises those working in and associated with catering in the UK care sector.

The hard work and commitment of Hotel Services Manager, James Clear, was recognised by the judges and his lasting contribution to the NACC saw him win the Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award. James’ exceptional standards of care, compassion and professionalism have gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and the wider sector as a whole.

Chefs in two other Care UK homes, Iain Young at Murrayside in Edinburgh and Stuart Passey at Pear Tree Court in Hampshire, have also been shortlisted in the Care Establishment category of the awards for their commitment to recognising dietary needs of each resident and ensuring there is always plenty of choice on offer.

Best Employer Support for Your Registered Manager 2020 AND Most Effective Approach to Leadership and Management 2020

"We were so pleased to hear that we had been selected by the judges. Skills development is at the heart of everything we do, as only by having skilled, supported and compassionate colleagues can we provide the high levels of care that residents expect and deserve".

"Our supportive and inclusive culture is driven by that vision. We strive to be a best in class operator, which we do by helping residents to live fulfilling lives and by supporting colleagues to reach their potential in a friendly, supportive environment."

Leah Queripel, HR Director

2020 HIGHLY COMMENDED in two award categories

Best Employer Support For Your Registered Manager
Most Effective Approach to Leadership and Management

The Skills for Care Accolades Awards are national awards that celebrate adult social care providers and individual employers that are committed to delivering high quality care. They are open to England's 21,300 social care providers and identify and celebrate those who are committed to getting the best from their most valuable resource - their people.

Leaders in Care Awards Finalist 2019 - Care Provider of the Year

"I'm shocked to find I've won this trophy. I can't wait to show it to the teams in the homes that I support and say thank you to them as well. Without their hard work and dedication to sharing my mission to deliver fantastic care for each and every resident, I wouldn't even have been shortlisted.”

Omar, Regional Director

2019 WINNER Leader of the Future – Omar Taylor

The national Leaders in Care Awards organised by Care Home Professional and Home Care Insight magazines are designed to recognise leaders and visionaries in social care.

The Leader of the Future Award honours the up and coming stars in the industry who are making waves and climbing up the career ladder through the demonstration of leadership, passion and new ideas.

His three promotions over the past three years combined with his talent in leading a team to deliver the very best in care for older people saw Regional Director Omar Taylor win the Leader of the Future Award.

An impressive shortlist
Despite being open to every social care provider in the country, Care UK was also shortlisted for two other awards at the same event but sadly missed out on the top prizes.

Judges shortlisted Care UK in the Care Provider of the Year category for being committed to supporting its 10,000 residents to lead fulfilling lives, while employing and training an additional 3,000 staff in new build homes over the last seven years.

Tracy Norbury from Hollins Park in Macclesfield was shortlisted too. Described as a visionary Manager, her combination of experience, empathy and compassion, and her determination to provide the best care for the home's 48 residents saw her reach the final of the ‘Registered Care Home Manager of the Year' category.

Group Care Home Caterer of the Year 2018

“It is an honour to win Care Home Catering’s first awards, especially in the Group Care Home Caterer of the Year category. This is a tribute to all the kitchen teams in our homes across the country, as well as to Care UK’s passionate commitment to delivering delicious and nutritious food to all of our residents, whatever their dietary needs.”

Jon Bicknell, Food and hotel services director

WINNER Group Care Home Caterer of the Year 2018

The prestigious awards run by Care Home Catering magazine reward celebrates national excellence in care home catering. Judges recognised the efforts of Jon Bicknell, our food and hotel services director, in revolutionising mealtimes across the country and turning the concept of dining with dignity into a reality.