Care Volunteer Hero
Award Purpose
The purpose of the Care Volunteer Hero Award is to celebrate someone who gives their time freely and makes a lasting contribution to care services or individuals.
Who can be nominated for this award?
Someone who gives their time freely and makes a lasting contribution to care services or individuals.
Award Criteria
- Voluntary Contribution The nominee gives their time freely, without payment, to support individuals or care services.
- Lasting Impact Their actions have made a meaningful and lasting difference to the people or services they support.
- Dedication and Compassion The nominee shows consistent commitment, kindness, and a caring attitude in all they do.
- Inspiration to Others They lead by example and inspire others through their selfless and positive approach.
Tech for Care Award
Award Purpose
For individuals or teams using digital tools creatively to improve care delivery, communication, or efficiency in adult social care.
Who can be nominated for this award?
This award recognises individuals, teams, or organisations that have used innovative digital solutions to improve care delivery, enhance efficiency, or transform the care experience. Nominees should demonstrate excellence in the following areas:
Award Criteria
- The solution should address a clear care challenge and lead to measurable improvements in care quality, access, or wellbeing, while enhancing user experience, satisfaction, and inclusion.
- Operational Efficiency & Value The innovation should increase productivity, reduce duplication, and improve efficiency. It should also demonstrate long-term value, including cost-effectiveness and secure data protection.
- Implementation & Collaboration The solution must involve collaboration with staff and service users and be successfully adopted and integrated across teams or services.
- Innovation & Distinctiveness The solution should introduce a new or improved way of delivering care and provide unexpected benefits or additional value.
Rising Star in Care Award
Award Purpose
The Rising Star in Care Award celebrates individuals who have recently embarked on a career in care and have demonstrated exceptional potential, dedication, and impact in their roles. This award recognises those who, regardless of age or background, have made a significant contribution to the care sector through their passion, innovation, and commitment to improving the lives of those they support.
Who Can Be Nominated
Nominees should have joined the care sector within the past three years and demonstrated significant potential and impact. They can work in any care setting and do not need formal qualifications, but must embody core values like compassion, respect, and integrity. Individuals of all ages and backgrounds who show strong commitment to personal and professional growth are welcome.
Award Criteria
- Demonstrated Impact and Initiative Provide examples of how the nominee has made a meaningful impact in their role, showcasing initiative, creativity, and a proactive approach to challenges.
- Commitment to Personal and Professional Growth Describe the nominee's dedication to continuous learning and development, including any relevant training, qualifications, or self-initiated learning activities they have pursued.
- Exemplary Values and Work Ethic Highlight how the nominee embodies core values such as compassion, respect, and integrity in their daily work, and how they inspire others through their work ethic and attitude.
Carer of the Year Award
Award Purpose
This award recognises an outstanding individual working in social care who consistently goes above and beyond to provide exceptional support to those they care for. They demonstrate compassion, dedication, and professionalism, making a real difference in the lives of service users, families, and colleagues. Whether in a residential, nursing, or community setting, this carer exemplifies the very best of the care sector.
Who can be nominated for this award?
This award is for Carers working in residential, nursing, or community setting. This carer exemplifies the very best of the care sector.
Award Criteria
- Dedication –Demonstrates consistent, long-term commitment to caregiving.
- Impact – Has significantly improved the life of the person or people they care for.
- Compassion – Shows empathy, patience, and a deep sense of responsibility.
- Initiative – Goes above and beyond, possibly developing creative or personal solutions to challenges.
- Resilience – Displays strength and perseverance in the face of emotional, physical, or logistical difficulties.
Support Superhero
This award honours the behind-the-scenes champions—chefs, cleaners, gardeners, drivers, admin staff, coordinators, and more—whose dedication, teamwork, and reliability keep our domiciliary and residential care services running smoothly every day.
Award Purpose
The purpose of this award is to recognise the vital contributions of non-care staff whose hard work, dedication, and teamwork behind the scenes are essential to the smooth and successful running of care services. It celebrates those who go above and beyond to support both colleagues and the people we care for.
Who can be nominated for this award?
This award is open to any non-care staff member, including chefs, cleaners, drivers, administrators, coordinators, field supervisors, recruitment officers, and finance teams, whose dedication and teamwork contribute to the smooth operation of domiciliary and residential care services.
Award Criteria
- Essential Contribution Plays a vital role in the daily life of the care home or service, ensuring smooth operations behind the scenes.
- Creating a Homely Environment Helps create a welcoming, safe, and comfortable atmosphere for residents and staff.
- Dedication and Reliability Shows consistent commitment, a strong work ethic, and pride in their role.
- Positive Impact on Others Brings warmth, kindness, and positivity that uplifts both residents and colleagues.
Specialist Carer of the Year
Award Purpose
Recognising the contributions of carers who possess advanced knowledge or specialized skills in a specific area, such as dementia, learning disabilities, mental health, or end-of-life care.
Who can be nominated for this award?
Carers who have demonstrated expertise and made a significant impact in a specific area of care, showing exceptional commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals with specialized care needs.
Award Criteria
- Specialised Knowledge and Skills The nominee demonstrates advanced knowledge or specialized training in a specific area of care, such as dementia, learning disabilities, mental health, or end-of-life care.
- Impact on Care Quality The nominee significantly enhances the quality of care and well-being of individuals in their care through their specialized expertise and approach.
- Compassion and Commitment The nominee consistently shows compassion, dedication, and a person-centered approach, going above and beyond in their specialized role.
- Continuous Learning and Improvement The nominee actively seeks opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills, ensuring they remain at the forefront of best practices in their field of expertise.
Inspirational Leader of the Year
Recognising an inspirational manager or leader who empowers others and champions high-quality care.
Award Purpose
This award recognises an individual working in the care sector who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and inspiration to others. They will have made a significant positive impact on their team, the people they support, and the wider community through their leadership.
The Inspirational Leader of the Year is someone who embodies the values of compassion, courage, collaboration, and commitment — leading by example and inspiring excellence in others.
Who can be nominated for this award?
Registered Managers, Service Leaders, Senior Care Staff, or Directors working in any care setting.
Nominees must have been in a leadership position within the sector for at least 12 months.
Award Criteria
- Open to leaders working in adult social care, learning disability services, mental health services, and related fields.
Residential Home of the Year – Hampshire
Award Purpose
This prestigious award recognises a residential home in Hampshire that exemplifies excellence in delivering person-centred care.
Who can be nominated for this award?
This award is open to any residential provider in Hampshire that demonstrates excellence in delivering person-centred care, fostering a compassionate, safe, and empowering environment for its residents.
Award Criteria
- Exceptional Care Standards: Consistently providing high-quality, compassionate care that meets the diverse needs of residents.
- Innovative Practices: Implementing creative solutions to enhance resident wellbeing and operational efficiency.
- Community Engagement: Fostering strong relationships with residents, families, and the local community.
- Staff Development: Investing in the continuous professional growth of staff members.
- Leadership Excellence: Demonstrating visionary leadership that inspires and motivates the care team.
Homecare Provider of the Year
Award Purpose
This prestigious award recognises a Hampshire-based home care provider that consistently delivers exceptional, person-centred care, demonstrating excellence in service delivery, innovation, and community impact
Who can be nominated for this award?
This award is open to any Hampshire-based home care provider that consistently delivers exceptional, person-centred care, demonstrating excellence in service delivery, innovation, and a positive impact on the community.
Award Criteria
- Outstanding Care Quality: Consistently providing high-quality, compassionate care that meets the diverse needs of clients.
- Innovative Practices: Implementing creative solutions to enhance client wellbeing and operational efficiency.
- Community Engagement: Fostering strong relationships with clients, families, and the local community.
- Staff Development: Investing in the continuous professional growth of staff members.
- Leadership Excellence: Demonstrating visionary leadership that inspires and motivates the care team.
Hampshire Care Hero of the Year
Award Purpose
A special award for lifetime achievement and exceptional long-term dedication to adult social care in Hampshire.
Who can be nominated for this award?
Individuals who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to adult social care in Hampshire, with a proven track record of exceptional service, leadership, or advocacy over the course of their career.
Award Criteria:
- Lifetime Achievement The nominee has shown outstanding dedication to adult social care over a long period of time, making a lasting impact in the field.
- Exceptional Service and Contribution The nominee has consistently delivered high-quality care and/or services that have positively affected the lives of individuals and communities in Hampshire.
- Leadership and Advocacy The nominee has demonstrated leadership, advocacy, or mentoring in the field, inspiring others and driving positive change within the care sector.
- Commitment to the Community The nominee has a clear and sustained commitment to the well-being of people in Hampshire, contributing to the local care landscape through both direct care and broader community involvement.
