A WOMAN wrongly written off as a “naughty” student at school because of her dyslexia but who went on to shine after getting a job in the care sector has been shortlisted for a major award.
Laura Shone, 32, is now a highly respected staff trainer at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham where during the pandemic she used her initiative to come up with a hand-washing video to the tune of the Bee Gees’ Staying Alive.
It is this kind of dedication to her job that has landed Laura, who lives in New Broughton, Wrexham, a place in the final of major national competition the 2024 Wales Care Awards, known as the Oscars of social care.
The glittering ceremony is being sponsored by Ontex Healthcare, and will take place at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.
Laura, who is shortlisted in the Commitment to Training and Workforce Development category sponsored by City and Guilds and WJEC Consortium, is originally from Wrexham and after leaving school the age of 16 went on to college but enjoyed neither experience very much due to her dyslexia.
She said: “At school they labelled me as a ‘naughty student’ because of it. The school environment definitely wasn’t for me and I’m afraid it was much the same when I went to college.
“What I enjoyed much more was when I got my first job. It was looking after the horses kept by a local farm shop. It was perfect for me because I am a horse lover and now have two of my own – Harrison who is 27 years old and Bailey. who is 22 and has only one eye after he lost the other when he had an accident with a tree branch.”
Laura has been married to her husband Keiron for nine years and the couple have one son, six-year-old Harri, who became a national TV star earlier this year when he appeared on BCC’s The One Show because of his regular visits to Pendine Park’s Highfield in Wrexham where his mum has worked for the past 13 years.
And it has at been at Highfield, which cares for 112 residents, that Laura’s career has really taken off due to the opportunities she is given to succeed that she never received while in the education system.
She explained: “The root of person-centred care and the enrichment of residents stems from good training.
“In my job I feel that everyone deserves the best training and I enjoy developing the staff because I always want people to feel that they are capable and can better themselves no matter what.
“I ensure the residents are always well cared for and that the staff know about their residents and how they can help to make their lives better. I help the staff to register for Social Care Wales to implement the codes of practice, making sure everyone is given the chance to succeed.”
During the pandemic Laura worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both residents and staff, often coming in early in the morning and staying until late at night ensuring that staff followed safety protocols.
She even produced her own video on correct hand washing techniques with background music of the Bee Gees’ famous hit Stayin’ Alive which was a huge hit with all who saw it.
A senior staff member who nominated Laura for the Wales Care Awards said: “Staff know that she worked hard and sacrificed a lot to ensure their safety and as a result Highfield general nursing unit didn’t lose any residents to Covid and to this day it is still that way.
“Staff see Laura as a credit to Highfield and feel that she makes everyone comfortable, well inducted and trained to the highest standard.”
Laura says she’s looking forward very much to attending the awards ceremony in Cardiff with her husband and fellow staff members from Highfield and recalled: “When I heard I’d been shortlisted I was overwhelmed but really touched by it. But at Highfield I feel that I’m just part of a team effort.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards, said: “Our aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines on the front line of social across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”
