DORSET care homes were recognised at the annual Star Awards ceremony which was held online for the second year in a row.

Homes run by Care South in Dorchester, Weymouth and Gillingham scooped an array of awards at the company’s annual Star Awards ceremony, held on Tuesday, September 21.

Now in its 12th year, the Star Awards recognises and rewards individuals and teams from across the company for their outstanding achievements and excellent care provision. For the second year in a row, the event was held live over Zoom with Care South’s chairman, Jane Stichbury, and chief executive, Simon Bird, hosting the event centrally and trustees, directors and senior managers joining each care home and care at home office in person to present awards and join in the post Zoom awards and celebrations.

The afternoon also celebrated those staff that were recognised as true Heart Ambassadors in line with Care South’s HEART values, which stand for Honesty, Excellence, Approach, Respect and Teamwork.

Care Home Manager of the Year was awarded to Rachel Sohorye at Maiden Castle House in Dorchester whose home also won a coveted Senior Management Team award in recognition of how hard the whole team has worked throughout the home to make it such a warm and welcoming place that the residents love and the team love working within.

Carrie Elliott from Fern Brook Lodge received the Best Residential Care Team Leader of the Year award and Buxton House in Weymouth was presented with the Best Activities Team award for all its brilliant ideas and the constant entertainment it puts on for its residents.

The much-coveted Chairman’s Award was presented to three of the e Quality Audit Team who had moved across to supporting all homes with the rigorous testing regimes during the pandemic.

The award was presented at Head Office by Care South’s chairman, Jane Stichbury, who said: “I have great pleasure in presenting this award to the Quality Audit Team in recognition of the fantastic support they have given all the homes over the past year. Their attitude is exemplary, and they always show such commitment, enthusiasm and willingness in all they do.”

Simon Bird, chief executive at Care South, said: “Our Star Awards really are a highlight of the year for us and our teams. It offers us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the professionalism, passion and commitment to care that is delivered day in, day out by our staff, and gives us the chance to acknowledge and thank everyone for their hard work and dedication – especially during these past 18 months. We received an incredible number of nominations this year and all our finalists and winners should be extremely proud of themselves as we certainly are of them. We are also grateful to our sponsors Bidfood and Blueleaf and thank them for their continued support.”