Blackpool’s health care heroes will be celebrated at a special awards ceremony next week.
Top carers from across the town will hope to take home the title of ‘Carer of the year 2016’ next week at the Winter Gardens.
The annual awards ceremony, which is running for a third successive year, aims to celebrate the good work that is done by carers all over the town.
On average, carers across Blackpool provide 12,000 hours of support across Blackpool every week, allowing people to continue to live in their own homes rather than needing to enter a care home or admitting into hospital.
Around 600 carers work in Blackpool from a variety of different care providers, helping local residents to cope with a long term illness, or provide help so that they can recover from a stay in hospital.
To celebrate the exceptional work that the carers do, the awards ceremony invites residents from across the town to nominate the staff that they think do a sterling job.
This year, 208 people have entered submissions for carers that they think should take away the coveted title of carer of the year.
Each of the nominations includes a heart-warming story about how carers have improved families lives, from keeping people washed and clean to helping with vital medication and providing support and a visitor to talk to when times are tough.
In addition to the carer of the year award, prizes will also be handed out across four other categories: best new carer, best double-up team, best care co-ordinator and long service recognition.
Cllr Amy Cross, Blackpool Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Safeguarding, said: “Being a carer is one of the most rewarding jobs around. Carers don’t do their job for the money or the praise but because it makes a huge difference to the families that they help.
“Around 1,000 Blackpool families receive care in their own home and carers make such a difference to all of them, helping to keep their loved ones in their own home rather than them needing a residential home or a hospital stay.
“Quite often, the exceptionally good work that carers do every day can go overlooked. These awards are a chance for the community to show our carers just how much they are appreciated and is a celebration not just of the winners, but of the caring profession as a whole.”
Sandy Bell, Chair of Blackpool Care at Home Providers Forum, added: “Home care providers work extremely hard to ensure the quality of staff we employ is extremely high.
“It is wonderful that the Forum and Council work together in partnership to recognise the dedication that all our care staff give to the residents of Blackpool.”
