Outstanding carer Lesley Stone

LOCAL WOMAN RECOGNISED AS OUTSTANDING CARER IN NATIONAL AWARDS

A Senior Support Worker at Craegmoor’s Evergreen service, which provides residential support for individuals with learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, dementia and autism, was today presented with Reed Social Care’s prestigious Carer of the Year Regional Award. Leslie Stone, who has worked for Craegmoor for six years and at Evergreen since 2007 was surprised to learn that she had been nominated for the Award by her Manager Sue Thompson and thrilled when she learned that she had won.

Craegmoor – which across the UK supports over 4,000 people with learning disabilities, complex needs and mental health illnesses, as well as older people – has a real commitment to celebrating the great work that staff do and Leslie has already won a Craegmoor ‘Shining Stars’ award for her excellent work supporting individuals at Evergreen.

The Awards, which are held by Reed Social Care in association with Sue Ryder Care, culminate in September 2010 at the Waldorf Hotel in London. Lesley will be attending for her chance to be a winner at the National Awards Ceremony.

Leslie’s Manager, Sue Thompson said:

“Leslie really is a star at Evergreen, although she’d never like to admit it! She’s involved in every aspect of the work we do, organising the regular Your Voice meetings where the individuals we support at Evergreen take an active role in the service’s operation, arranging lots of activities, going on day trips and holidays. The list goes on and on!

“Leslie just gets on so well with everybody – all the individuals who we support and all of the staff team love her. I think she was a bit shocked when I nominated her for this award, but she deserves the recognition. We’re all so proud of her.”

On learning that she’d won the Regional Award, Leslie said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled by this award, which has come completely out of the blue. It’s lovely to be recognised for doing a job that I love anyway, but I really think that everyone at Evergreen deserves a prize. All of my colleagues and the people we support are a real pleasure to work with.”