The deputy manager of Taunton care home Oake Meadows has been shortlisted for a prestigious national care award.
Kayleigh Harris has achieved a finalist place in the Rising Star category of the Women Achieving Greatness in Care Awards 2022.
The Women Achieving Greatness in Care Awards (WAGS) celebrates the achievements of female leaders and rising stars from across the care sector.
After starting in community care, Kayleigh decided to move into residential care 12 years ago taking up the post of carer at Oake Meadows in Taunton.
In that time, with hard work, training and the support of the management team, Kayleigh quickly progressed to senior carer, unit manager and then deputy manager, completing her Level 3 Diploma along the way.
Paula Champion, regional manager for Larchwood Care, said: “Kayleigh is a true asset to Oake Meadows. Her determination and willingness to learn are impressive. Despite not coming from a nursing background, Kayleigh has worked hard to ensure she has excellent clinical knowledge. Over the years, she has completed her training with enthusiasm and learned as much as possible from her highly skilled nursing colleagues.
“We felt that Kayleigh’s journey so far is the very definition of a rising star and just had to nominate her for this award!”
Kayleigh said: “I initially joined the team at Oake Meadows to see if I would like working in residential care. 12 years later, I am still here and absolutely love my job! I’ve been very lucky to have wonderful support from the management team and to have been working alongside some incredible nursing colleagues.
“To see how far Oake Meadows has come, now highly respected in the local area, with social services recommending us for our enablement facility, I’m proud to have been part of that journey. I have never been nominated for anything like this. I am thrilled and so excited, a huge thank you to my colleagues!”
The Women Achieving Greatness in Care Awards takes place in London on 30th November.
