Lincolnshire care home OSJCT Whitefriars in Stamford, has been nominated for a Great British Care Award. Shelly Smith, Home Manager, and members of her team are finalists in the ‘Care Innovator Award’ category and will attend the East Midlands Awards on 3 November at the East Midlands Conference Centre. 

The team at OSJCT Whitefriars were nominated for introducing a new initiative at the 56-bed care home, where residents can take up empowering volunteer opportunities in their home. Home Manager Shelly Smith came up with the idea.

Roles were advertised on an Opportunities notice board, and included Volunteer Manager’s Assistant, Volunteer Housekeeper, and Volunteer Gardener. Residents completed application forms and then took part in interviews carried out by care home employees. The response from residents was fantastic, and applications flooded in. This innovation has been a huge success with positive feedback from relatives and local nurse and health care professionals.

Shelly explained: “I am delighted that we have been nominated for the ‘Care Innovator Award’. Staff and residents have enthusiastically welcomed the residents’ volunteer initiative.

“Our residents all have wonderful skills and experience from their working lives or running their own family home. By offering them the opportunity to take on easy tasks, which fall within their capabilities, they feel empowered and purposeful. It really contributes to that feeling of a family home.”

The team at Whitefriars are already winners, as they received a Ferrers Innovation Award for the residents’ volunteer initiative at the recent OSJCT Lincolnshire Awards.