A DEDICATED staff trainer still can’t quite believe she has landed a top honour in national awards known as the Oscars of social care.
Laura Shone, 32, who was wrongly written off as a“naughty” student at school because of her dyslexia, went on to become a highly member of the team with the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham.
She took gold at the glittering presentation evening of the 2024 Wales Care Awards, sponsored by Ontex Healthcare, held in the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff and hosted by radio and TV presenter Jason Mohammad.
And days after receiving the handsome Welsh slate trophy presented to her by Kevin Barker, Deputy Chief Inspector, Care Inspectorate Wales, for her success in the Commitment to Training and Workforce Development category sponsored by City and Guilds and WJEC Consortium, a delighted
Laura said: “I still can’t quite believe this has happened to me.
“I keep looking at the trophy with my name inscribed on it and feeling very proud, not just for myself but for everyone at the Highfield Park home where I have worked for 13 years. It was thanks to everyone there that I was nominated for and won this award.”
And when Laura got back to her home to Broughton in Wrexham she says there was another proud moment awaiting her when her six-year-old son 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 Highfield, told her: “I’m so proud of you mummy.”
Laura added: “The presentation evening was brilliant because we got to celebrate everybody who works so hard in the care industry.
“It was also great to be at the ‘Team Highfield’ table with my husband Keiron and my friends from work.”
After leaving school at 16 Laura, originally from Wrexham, 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.”
It has at been at Highfield, which cares for 112 residents, that Laura’s career really started to take 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.”
Mario Kreft, chairman of Care Forum Wales, said the standard of entries was extremely high.
He added: “There are only winners here tonight so it is only fitting that the finalists will receive a gold, silver or bronze Wales Care Award.
“I trust that they will continue to inspire those around them as role models and encourage others to aspire to even greater heights and in the months and years to come.
“This awards ceremony is our opportunity to pay tribute and to celebrate the talent and commitment that is improving the quality of life for thousands and thousands of people throughout Wales.
”We take our hats off to them.”
