Oct 2021
OSJCT employees receive Order of Malta awards for exceptional service
Recent presentation ceremony honoured 2020 and 2021 recipients.

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