Award shows Sharon really cares

Jun 17 2009 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

A YOUNG mum has been named one of Scotland’s top carers at a glitzy award ceremony.

Sharon Orr, 27 was recognised at the prestigious awards ceremony celebrating the brightest stars in Scotland’s care industry.

Sharon was selected from more than 200 entries as the winner for the Children and Families Employee of the Year Award at the Scottish Care at Home Awards, held at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel in Glasgow.

Sharon, who is a homecare supervisor at Ailsa Care Services, was stunned when she was named as the gong winner.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have won at the Scottish Care At Home Awards.

“I’ve been in the industry for six years now and I really do love it.

“It is so satisfying and I’ve met a lot of lovely people along the way. Starting at Ailsa Care Services was really the turning point which made me realise that this is definitely the career for me.

“The awards ceremony was a fantastic night and really has made me feel very special.

Sharon, from Bishopton, added: “I was just so happy to be nominated and I think I am still in shock and can’t quite believe how many nominations I received. It is a wonderful feeling to have been recognised in this way.”

Linda Smith, service manager at Ailsa Care Services, who nominated Sharon for the fantastic work she has done, said: “It’s fantastic that Sharon has won the Children and Families Employee of the Year Award.

“Sharon is perfectly suited to this profession and always gives 100 per cent. She is very passionate about working with children and families and her enthusiasm has been truly infectious among the rest of our staff.”

Sharon’s boss Lynn Nelson was also a winner on the night when the Renfrew-based company was recognised as one of the top care companies providing quality training in Scotland.

Ailsa Care Services was selected as the winner of the Trainer of the Year award and Ailsa Care Services’ care director Lynn, 33, from Paisley, was on hand to collect the award.

She said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Ailsa Care Services has won at the Scottish Care At Home Awards.

“This was the first time that we had ever received a nomination so it really did come as a huge shock to us that we won. The whole team had a great time at the awards ceremony and winning has made the entire team feel really special. It’s a wonderful feeling to have received this recognition – it has really blown us all away.”

Now in their third year, the awards have been hailed a huge success this year with more entries than ever flooding in from service users, employers and employees nominating their peers and colleagues.

The Scottish Care At Home Awards ceremony followed a full-day of conference for the care sector where representatives including Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport, Marcia Ramsay from the Care Commission and Alan Baird Director of Social Work in Dundee addressed care sector workers on various issues of the day affecting commissioners, providers, staff and care service users.

The awards were judged by Carole Wilkinson, CEO of Scottish Social Services Council, Hugh Mills, CEO for independent health and care providers Northern Ireland, Allan Hosie, managing director of Orrkerrdykes, and Simon Kerr from Clydesdale Bank.