The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has announced the winners of the 2018 NACC Awards at a gala dinner.
The innovation, achievements and dedication of teams and individuals that make an exceptional contribution in the specialist field of care catering were rewarded and celebrated by the association’s members, industry partners and guests at the awards dinner held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham.
The 2018 winners are:
Care Establishment of the Year: Primrose Bank Care Home
The judges were in no doubt that Primrose Bank is a care home where lives are enriched and residents have fun, while benefitting from a focused approach to nutrition that ensures their wellbeing.
Meals on Wheels Award: Harrogate Food Angels, Harrogate Neighbours Housing Association Ltd.
The judges described the service, which last year delivered up to 500 meals via more than 70 well-trained volunteers, who also receive dementia friendly and safeguarding training, as having: “Outstanding achievements from humble beginnings in such a short time.”
Catering Team of the Year Award: Catering Team, Avery Lodge, Brighterkind
The high-performing, professional catering team at Avery Lodge champions person-centred dining. The judges agreed that the hardworking, dedicated and creative team are well deserving of the award.
Catering Manager of the Year Awards: Jane Parke, County Enterprise Foods, Nottinghamshire County Council
Parke has worked within the meals service for Nottinghamshire County Council for more than 20 years. As team manager at County Enterprise Foods, she manages 70 people, 24 of whom are supported employees with physical or learning disabilities. Her expertise, dedication and positivity make her, in the judges’ words, an outstanding manager who has contributed so much over so many years.
Care Catering Hero Award: Debbie Wright, Cook-in-Charge for Norse Catering, Munhaven Care Home
Munhaven is a specialist home for people living with dementia. Wright, who is also a Brownie leader, connects her Brownies and residents through activities, giving the residents a sense of purpose and changing perceptions of dementia within the community. The judges felt that she was a worthy winner among this year’s most excellent entries.
Region of the Year: Northern Region
In what is always a hotly contested category, the Northern Region was victorious. The judges were impressed by the region’s reinvigorated approach, which has led to increased membership, good attendance at events and a sound financial position.
Pam Rhodes Outstanding Achievement Award: Mark Taylor
The Pam Rhodes Award recognises the work and commitment of an individual that has made a lasting contribution to the NACC. Mark Taylor has been proactive within the NACC since 2012. He is regional chair for the South East and has played a valuable role in key initiatives, including championing Meals on Wheels and the launch and development of the qualification, Level 2 Specialist Award for Chefs in Health and Social Care. His support and commitment to exceptional standards of care and services has gained the respect of his colleagues and the wider care industry.
Chairman’s Award 2018: David Barker
Neel Radia, the NACC chairman, awarded this special recognition to David Barker for his unwavering support of the association since the 1990s. Popular and respected among his colleagues, David is described as having a big heart. He is always willing to lend a hand, supportive of his peers and has been instrumental in key NACC events and campaigns. As chairman of the Northern region, Barker has worked very hard with his team to create the vibrant, fun and successful region that it is today.
Neel Radia also presented three dedicated NACC members with an honorary membership of the NACC for their longstanding and outstanding services to the association. The three worthy recipients were Roger Kellow, Sue Hawkins and Vivien Rose.
Neel Radia, the NACC’s national chair, says: “What a night! Huge congratulations to all our winners. Everyone knows that the NACC Awards are a personal highlight of the year for me. It’s such an honour to recognise the exceptional work that takes place in care catering across the UK every day. All our finalists are inspirational, and we have a huge amount of respect for them.
“Catering for the vulnerable and elderly, who can have a wide range of special dietary and dining needs, requires specialist knowledge and skills, and carries immense responsibility. And, for caterers impacted by the ongoing squeeze on social care budgets, it’s even more challenging.
"It’s heartening and humbling to see that care catering professionals work tirelessly to overcome the challenges and continually raise standards of excellence, with their sights always on the health and wellbeing of those that matter the most; the people entrusted to their care. It’s therefore right that their unwavering dedication is celebrated for all to see. They are fantastic ambassadors for the NACC and the care catering sector.”
