Stockport Stars Unveiled

6th February 2017

The shining stars of Stockport’s care sector were unveiled at a glittering, celebratory award ceremony last week.

The Stockport Star awards, for the local care home and home care sector, were launched by Stockport Together as a way of thanking its loyal and dedicated staff.

Hundreds of staff had been nominated for the newly created awards and the judges had the unenviable task of whittling the numbers down to just nine winners.

The winner of the Overall Stockport Star award was revealed as 19 year old Kieran Dinan, a care assistant at Marple Dale Nursing Home.

Kieran, who has only worked as a carer for a year, stepped up to receive his coveted award from BBC presenter Annabel Tiffin at the evening event at Edgeley Park.

The judging panel – made up of experts from the health and care sector – were told how he transforms the lives of those he cares for because of his thoughtful and compassionate nature.

One of the judges, Sue Carroll from Stockport Healthwatch, said “Selecting an overall winner has been really tough because we’ve had so many excellent nominations. It’s wonderful to see that this important sector is littered with workers who are truly inspirational but there could only be one overall winner.

“Kieran stood out because he has a way of making the residents he cares for feel like family. He always goes the extra mile for them and they love him for it.”

Kieran said: “It’s great to have been recognised, especially after I’ve only been in the industry for such a short amount of time. I feel like this award should be for the whole team at Marple Dale, as it is a collective effort that ensures we’re able to give the high quality care that the people in our home deserve.”

The winners in the other categories were as follows:

·         Best Domiciliary Care Worker: Spencer Jones

·         Best Care Home Worker: Kuem OK Shinn

·         Royal College of Nursing Award for Best Care Home Nurse: Kerry Fletcher

·         Most Inspirational Leader: Pauline Parker Moore

·         Most Innovative Practice: Emma Moore and Natalie Peters

·         Best Care Home: Wellcroft

·         Best Care Team: Ashbourne House

·         People’s Choice: Plane Tree Court

Anita Rolfe, Stockport CCG’s Executive Nurse, who championed the creation of the awards,

said “ I’m so proud of the wonderful people we have working in the borough’s care sector.

We could only have nine winners but I hope these awards have shown that there are winners everywhere. They are an inspiration to us all.”

Cllr Wendy Wild, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council and Executive Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I felt very privileged to be at the first Stockport Star awards last night.

“There were so many inspirational tales and well deserved awards. May I offer my congratulations to all those that were recognised on the night and in being nominated.”

Bridie Meehan from Quality Care of Cheadle said of the evening: “This really was a great event that made the carers in Stockport feel really special. It has helped to give staff a purpose and made them feel like the work they do has been acknowledged on a much bigger scale than ever before.

“The awards have helped to show the carers in our community just how much the work they do matters and really makes a difference.”