Paula West is a finalist in this year’s Lincolnshire Care Association (LinCA) Care Awards in the Frontline Leader category. She will be attending the gala award event on 30 March 2023 at The Double Tree by Hilton, Lincoln, where the winners will be announced.

Paula, a Care Leader at Whitefriars care home in Stamford, has worked at OSJCT since 2018.

She said: “I am delighted to be nominated for this award. I am absolutely passionate about my job. My family and friends are proud of what I do and applaud my approach to dispelling indifference and ignorance towards those living with dementia.” 

Whitefriars Deputy Home Manager Louise Green said: “Congratulations to Paula for this nomination and making it through to the finals. Thank you for your hard work and continuous support, demonstrating OSJCT values and high standards of care. Your work is exceptional, and we are very grateful that you are part of the Whitefriars team. Well done!”

Paula took a job in domiciliary care in 2000 when a friend recommended, she try a job in the sector. Before that, she had spent a number of years caring for horses, including horses owned by a Saudi Arabian Sheik. Paula found that she had a natural aptitude to working in care as she explained: “From working with cautious horses, to vulnerable adults, I’ve found that both need time, love and understanding.”

For a number of years Paula worked in the community and became more confident in communicating with people in their own homes and making them feel at ease with sometimes difficult and personal tasks. Paula said: “I found that I could relate easily to people and that my sense of empathy grew. As time went on, I moved to work in care homes and found my passion for supporting people living with dementia.

“I joined Whitefriars in 2018 and have not regretted a moment. Our residents are amazing, and with the support of their relatives, I hope we make a difference daily to their lives. Developing relationships with residents and relatives alike has developed me as a person.

“I try to always be inclusive and candid. I also try to break down the barriers that can be caused by labelling residents living with dementia. We all view the world from different aspects, and it is possible to find different ways to achieve wellbeing.”