Nov 2020
Duo at OSJCT Apple Trees, Grantham, hailed as Shining Stars in Trust Awards 2020
OSJCT Shining Stars Employee Awards
Victoria Wood (pictured left) and Julie McGrath (right) from OSJCT Apple Trees have been selected as winners in The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) Shining Stars Employee Awards 2020. The Trust, which employs over 5,200 staff across its homes and offices selected 48 winners from a shortlist of 129 finalists.
Julie has been awarded OSJCT Activities Coordinator of the Year 2020, Lincolnshire, and Victoria is OSJCT Carer of the Year 2020, Lincolnshire.
Julie joined the Trust in 2017. She received the award for putting on great activities and organising fabulous events as well as taking time to understand residents and organising activities to suit them. Julie was also praised for helping the team out when needed.
Julie said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won Activity Coordinator of the Year! It is such an honour, especially considering all the other Activity Coordinators in Lincolnshire all do an amazing job, but also because this is a job that I really enjoy. I thank everyone that has nominated me. My favourite part of the job is seeing the smile on the faces of residents when we do activities with them.”
Victoria, who joined the Trust in 2018, was nominated for being kind and compassionate and caring for residents. Her nomination cited a time when she had accompanied a resident to a hospital appointment and a member of the public wrote to the home after observing her kindness and engagement with the resident waiting to be seen by medical staff.
Victoria said: “It has been very humbling to have been nominated and awarded Carer of the Year!
“Coming to work with all the residents in OSJCT Appletrees does not feel like work. It is the most rewarding employment I have ever taken and just being able to comfort and care for the ladies and gentlemen within our care setting is reward enough.
“I have learnt so much being part of the OSJCT Appletrees team and I would like to thank everyone that has mentored me and nominated me. It is such an honour to be a part of The Order of St John Care Trust.
“My favourite part of my role is seeing the smiles on the residents faces when they see you, knowing you make a difference to their everyday lives.”
Caroline Dunagan, Area Operations Director, Lincolnshire, and a member of the judging panel, said: “I would like to thank Julie and Victoria for their wonderful contribution and congratulate them on winning these awards. It is so important to celebrate and recognise the wonderful achievements of colleagues from across Lincolnshire, each and everyone have gone out of their way to improve the lives of those living in our homes. We absolutely appreciate and value their contribution.”