Thorp House nursing home in national finals for three care awards
Thorp House nursing home, in Griston, near Watton, is celebrating a hat-trick of nominations in two separate national care awards.
Senior support worker Gemma Boldy, who has worked at the Kingsley Healthcare run home for 10 years, is one of five finalists competing for the title of Carer 2021 at the Caring Times National Care Awards to be staged at the Hilton London Metropole on November 19.
Meanwhile, Thorp House’s head of activities, Marcia Hughes, who joined the team six years ago, is hoping for success at the Caring UK Awards, to be staged at Athena, Leicester, on December 2.
She is a finalist for Activities Team of the Year and the home is a finalist in the Community Involvement category.
Miss Boldy, who lives in nearby Carbrooke with her partner and three children, a 13-year-old daughter and twin eight-year-old boys, said: “I am both excited and scared at reaching the final. It is a privilege and reflects on the really strong team we have here.”
In a testimony from home manager Binu Augustine and deputy manager Alexia Deakin, Miss Boldy is described as a “dedicated family woman who has a determination and passion about her which is loyal and loving and a lot of fun”.
It goes on: “Gemma is an amazing leader, her work colleagues think very highly of her and follow her lead, ensuring that a high level of care is promoted at all times.”
Mrs Hughes, who lives in Watton with her husband and 10-year-old daughter, is the driving force behind Thorp House’s community involvement in her activities’ role.
She said: “I am absolutely thrilled. I want to be seen as a representative of care in the future.
“People who visit us at Thorp House can see how care homes have evolved into fun and vibrant places.”
In her awards submission, she explains how activities are very person centred and influenced by residents’ life stories.
Even at the height of the pandemic, she supported one resident with a passion for painting to hold his first public art exhibition, online, at the age of 84.
Connecting Thorp House to the community is at the heart of her activities and one of her proudest moments came in August when she organised a memorial and unveiling ceremony to honour people who died locally in the pandemic.
Find out more about Thorp House nursing home
Author: Stephen Pullinger
