Carer of the Year

Diane McNulty doesn’t like being the centre of attention. But she is “really proud” of winning this award last year.

Diane, 54, is a registered carer for her son Kevin who has uncontrolled epilepsy. He and his wife Sally now have a daughter, Maisie, aged one, and they are supported by both Diane and her husband Phil.

Assisted by Diane’s sister-in-law, they help with housework and baby-sitting, shopping and picking up medication, and Diane, of Bradwell Avenue, visits several times a day. She also visits her father daily in a residential home

Diane said there had been some positives which had come out of the tough times. For example, her son Philip, 33, is now a paediatric epilepsy nurse in Barnsley and is studying for a masters

She said: “On the Proud of Barnsley awards night, my son’s wife took ill and I had a chest infection but the editor persuaded me to come and I enjoyed it.”

Diane, who gave up her previous work because of her family commitments, said: “When you think about people’s worth it’s often about what they earn, but my husband says caring is worth more than a big title or a big wage.”

The Carer of the Year award recognises and celebrates the hard work and commitment of people who look after family, partners or friends voluntarily because they are ill, frail or have a disability.

The following points are intended as guidelines only, to help you with your nomination.

What does your carer do for you to make life easier?
Do they run errands for you, do the shopping, tidy your home or garden or help care for your pets?
Are they always willing to listen when you need to talk?

They may look after one person or many; be a family member or friend, a foster parent or someone from the caring professions such as nurses or doctors.

Carers often receive very little praise for the vital service they provide. This is a great way to remind everyone what a debt we owe them and given them the recognition they deserve.

Category Sponsor

Maria Mallaband Care Group

Locke Road
Gilroyd
Barnsley S75 3QH

Telephone: 01226 281389

www.mmcgcarehomes.co.uk

The Maria Mallaband Care Group (MMCG) is one of the UK’s leading care home providers, renowned for offering luxurious, modern facilities and outstanding, quality services.

The group believes that growing old doesn’t mean life has to become less exciting and therefore ensures its residents receive a superior level of care, whilst maintaining a sense of dignity and enjoying a high standard of living.

Its dedicated, qualified care teams’ commitment is to ensure that residents’ well-being and comfort is, and always remains, a top priority at its specially designed homes located throughout the UK, Northern Ireland and Channel Islands.

The MMCG has chosen to support the Proud of Barnsley Awards to highlight the great level of care delivered to residents of the town through its Water Royd House Nursing and Dementia Home in Gilroyd.

The purpose-built 62-bedded care home, which specialises in residential, nursing and residential dementia care along with delivering palliative care.

Care Manager Catherine Smith says it is Water Royd’s aim to provide a homely atmosphere so all residents, families, staff and visitors feel welcome and wanted.

“As a community, Barnsley is very close knit and we all work together to provide the best possible care and access areas within the community to help our residents.

“The MMCG wanted to support the Proud of Barnsley Awards because we are very proud to have an exceptional care home in the Barnsley area, which is well known in the community for providing extremely high standards of care.

“Personally I’m proud to work in Barnsley because I’m Barnsley born and bred and people of the town are the most down to earth and caring people that you will ever meet.

“It’s very exciting to see Barnsley people being entered into the Proud of Barnsley Awards and being recognised for all their hard work.

“We chose to support ‘Carer of the Year’ as it’s a very important accolade to have and we have many exceptional carers working for our own care homes.

“The winner of this award should be an individual that has, and is prepared to go that extra mile in delivering care to a resident. To recognise the person as an individual and to offer choice in a way that keeps the resident as independent and as safe as possible in the area that they have chosen to live.”

I’m proud to work in Barnsley because I’m Barnsley born and bred and people of the town are the most down to earth and caring people that you will ever meet.

Catherine Smith

Care Manager - Water Royd House Nursing and Dementia Home, Gilroyd