Dedicated team leader is given the star treatment she deserves

A DEDICATED team leader at Queen Charlotte Nursing Home in Weymouth was overwhelmed when she was given star treatment on a flight from Norwich to Exeter.   Colleagues of Nicola Turner tipped off cabin crew that she had just won the prestigious Support Worker of the Year title at their company Kingsley Healthcare’s annual care awards. An announcement congratulating Mrs Turner was made to the packed aircraft and everyone applauded – much to her surprise. Mrs Turner, 29, of Kingfisher Close in Weymouth, had been presented with her trophy and £250 prize at a glitzy awards ceremony in Lowestoft, Suffolk. Her success was announced by event host Dr Dawn Harper, of TV’s Embarrassing Bodies, who praised care home workers as “the unsung heroes of our society”.

Mrs Turner, who has worked as a carer for 10 years, said: “When Dr Dawn Harper read out my name as winner I could not believe it. It was an amazing day. “All the staff I work with deserve this award – and it’s not only the carers who make our care home a home from home for residents, it’s also the nurses, cleaners and the laundry, maintenance and kitchen staff.” She said she enjoyed her job because every day was different and rewarding.

“I’ve become close to the residents and their families and see them more as a large family,” she said. Mrs Turner has become renowned as a charity fundraiser at Queen Charlotte, organising numerous events including a tandem skydive with her colleague Jennifer Ayles in 2014 to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society and a fun dog show, earlier this summer, for Beagle Welfare.   She said: “In January 2017 I will be getting my hair cut and sending it to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.”  

Source: DorsetEcho