A TEAM member at Melksham care home, Blenheim House, has been awarded Activities Personality of The Year Award 2022 by the care sector activity and engagement charity, the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA).
Customer relationships manager, Chris Guest, won the award in recognition of his outstanding work, both in wider community engagement and in family and resident liaison – ensuring loved ones have a comfortable and caring stay at the home.
Chris’s work in engaging communities sees him run sessions across Wiltshire with local schools, hospitals, doctors’ groups and the wider community to promote dignity in care, dementia awareness and the outstanding wider care Blenheim House, a part of the wider Berkley Care Group, offers to its residents.
Commenting on his national award win, Chris, who first joined Blenheim House in 2019 as an activities lead before being promoted to his current role said, “The best thing about my work is seeing a vulnerable person come from hospital or the community and flourish in our care home. They not only find exceptional care, but new friendships, skills, and renewed interests. The relief from families when their loved one finds a place at our home is great to see and motivates me to help more families every day. I’ve seen Blenheim House grow from strength to strength, being awarded a Top 20 Care Home in the Southwest for two years in a row and being a consistently 10/10 scoring care home. I’m very proud to say I work here.”
Congratulating Chris on his award, Blenheim resident Pat Johnson said, “Well, I’m not surprised, he works so hard and he’s such a polite young man. He always puts us first and makes time to chat about how we’re getting on. He thoroughly deserved to win!”
Chris’s win comes alongside a host of other award nominations for the wider Blenheim House team. Competing in the South-West regionals division of the Great British Care Awards, reception and customer relations assistant, Ann Dunlop, has been nominated for the ancillary worker award.
Harriette Jonik, deputy manager, has been shortlisted for frontline leader award, while Chris Guest is also in the running for the dignity in care award. The winners for each category will be announced on Thursday 17th November at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol.
Commenting on her team’s wins and nominations, Blenheim House home manager Clare Hodges said, “I’m thrilled! I’m so pleased that the team’s hard work and dedication to our residents and their families is being recognised. It’s thoroughly deserved and is recognition for the commitment we put in every day.”
Pictured: Chris Guest from Blenheim House with his award.
