More than 20 employees have been awarded Medals of Merit and Crosses of Merit by the British Association of the Order of Malta for exceptional services in the field of social care. Several recipients attended a prestigious ceremony during a Mass held at The Brompton Oratory, London this October.

The ceremony was conducted by Fr. Ronald Creighton-Jobe, C.O. and honoured award recipients from 2020 and 2021 after last year’s event was postponed.

In total, 27 awards have been made to OSJCT employees for service covering the last two years, covering a time when care home teams persevered despite the most challenging of circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The British Association of the Order of Malta awards are open to employees in any role, with at least 10 years long service. Recipients in this year’s ceremony included activities coordinators, carers, chefs, and nurses. Three rare Crosses of Merit were awarded to Kerry Dearden, Deputy Chief Executive, Tracey Wardle, Finance and IT Director, and Caroline Alford, Head of Central Operations.

Sarah Staples, Chef at Digby Court in Bourne, Lincolnshire, has worked for the Trust since 2005, having joined as a part-time carer. She was awarded a Bronze Medal of Merit at the ceremony. She said:

“It was an honour to selected to receive the Medal. The ceremony was wonderful, everybody was full of admiration and appreciation for all the recipients. I feel very privileged to work at Digby Court with a great bunch of people and caring for our residents is a very fulfilling role for me.”

The full list of current employees who have received awards is:

2021 Awards

Caroline Alford, Cross of Merit, Head of Operations

Kerry Dearden, Cross of Merit, Deputy Chief Executive

Tracey Wardle, Cross of Merit, Finance, and IT Director

Tammy Raeburn, Silver Medal of Merit, Peripatetic Operations Manager, Wiltshire

Patrycja Chojnecka, Silver Medal of Merit, Activities Coordinator at Monkscroft Care Centre

Lois Harris, Silver Medal of Merit, Night Nurse at Henlow Court

Claire James, Silver Medal of Merit, Senior Nurse at Windsor Street Care Centre

Margaret Painter, Silver Medal of Merit, Head Housekeeper at Paternoster House

Rachel Kelman, Silver Medal of Merit, Head of Care at Southfield House

Sharon Tatum, Silver Medal of Merit, Home Manager at Old Station House

Karen Wilson-Samms, Bronze Medal of Merit, Domiciliary Carer at Orchard Meadows

Sarah Staples, Bronze Medal of Merit, Chef at Digby Court

Valerie Wallace, Bronze Medal of Merit, Carer at Whitefriars

Teresa Andrews, Bronze Medal of Merit, Housekeeper at Watersmead

2020 Awards

Jackie Wood, Silver Medal of Merit, Head of Operational Finance

Karen Armstrong, Silver Medal of Merit, Senior Nurse at Monkscroft Care Centre

Lorraine French, Bronze Medal of Merit, Carer at Rodley House

Paul Dovey, Bronze Medal of Merit, Handy Person at Rodley House

Karen Gibbons, Bronze Medal of Merit, Laundry Assistant at Stirlings

Angela Lindsay, Bronze Medal of Merit, Activity Coordinator at Stirlings

Charmaine Putt, Bronze Medal of Merit, Carer at Brookside

Julie Brown, Bronze Medal of Merit, Chef at Marden Court

Lucy Ponting, Bronze Medal of Merit, Head of Care at Athelstan House

Lisa Lawlor, Bronze Medal of Merit, Administration Assistant at Gregory House

Andrea Brooks, Silver Medal of Merit, Home Manager at Beckside

Connie Mcgowan, Silver Medal of Merit, Head of Care at Hartsholme House