Flourish Homes care worker Kath Culliford, who has worked at Street’s Bovemoor Extra Care scheme for more than a decade, is celebrating after scooping an Outstanding Care and Support Staff award at the recent Care Focus Somerset awards.
This is the second year running that a Bovemoor care worker has won a Care Focus Somerset accolade after Julie Curtis won the Tim Catley Day award at last year's inaugural ceremony.
On receiving her award Kath said: “Working on an Extra Care Scheme is special to me because the people I care for are able to live in their own homes which enables them to live as independently as possible. I’ve learnt a lot about helping with their individual needs and I’ve gained knowledge and experience of many different conditions and illnesses.”
Domiciliary Care Manager Pippa Greed said: “Kath is the second care worker from Bovemoor to be singled out to win after Julie Curtis won the Tim Catley Day award at last year’s first Care Focus Somerset ceremony. We think to win awards two years running is pretty amazing. It just goes to show what excellent work is being done in Bovemoor and, we think, across all four of our Extra Care Schemes in Mendip. A career in care can be a really rewarding one and the work Kath and her fellow care workers do makes a difference to people’s lives.”
Extra Care housing is for people who want independence but with a safety net of 24-hour support when they need it. Flourish Homes, which is a member of the Aster Group, has four extra care schemes, in Frome, Street, Shepton Mallet and Wells which all offer help with daily tasks like laundry, washing and dressing for those tenants who need it but within the independence of their own home. They also offer a lunchtime meal and social get-togethers which offer a real sense of community to the tenants.
The award was part of an evening of recognition for the count's care industry organised by Care Focus Somerset. Kath received her award from BBC Points West presenter Chris Vacher.
