STAFF at Weymouth and Dorchester care homes were given special awards at a recent ceremony.

The annual Care South Star Awards were held at the Balfour Suite at AFC Bournemouth.

Now in their fifth year, the awards recognise and reward outstanding achievement, commitment and dedication in care provision among staff who are nominated by their colleagues and those they care for. The awards also celebrate the achievements of staff who obtained qualifications during the year.

This year, Activities Coordinator Jenny Webster and the activities team at Care South’s Maiden Castle House home in Dorchester took home the award for Best Activities Programme

Care Team Leader/Night Shift Leader, Jemma Gowans, from Maiden Castle House won the Care Team Leader of the Year award for her team building and leadership skills, which enable her to forge strong relationships with her team.

Carol Mattingly, a dedicated volunteer at Maiden Castle House, received special recognition for her services to the home. The daughter of a former resident at the home and an experienced landscape gardener, Carol has started a regular gardening club for residents, with its own ‘tallest sunflower’ competition. She also recently transformed an old boat into a lovely outdoor seat in the home’s courtyard, painting it with images from the story of The Owl and The Pussycat, and created special sensory and memorial areas in the garden.

Meanwhile, the Best Care Newcomer award was presented to Joe Heath, a Care Assistant at Weymouth’s Mount Pleasant home. Since joining Mount Pleasant in January 2014, Joe has very quickly established himself as an important member of the care team.

Ricky Groarke, who drives the Care South minibus for residents at homes across Dorset, won the award for Best Care Support having received six nominations from his colleagues and residents. One resident said: “Ricky is always so kind and considerate, nothing is too much trouble.”