AFTER much deliberation the finalists of the 2021 Worcestershire Health & Social Care Awards have been revealed.

The awards were launched - in conjunction with the University of Worcester - earlier this year to recognise the talent and dedication of those heroes who work in the industry.

Run by Newsquest’s Worcestershire titles, including the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette, Evesham Journal, The Shuttle, Droitwich & Bromsgrove Advertiser and Redditch Advertiser, the aim of the awards is to champion those teams and individuals that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to care for people during the Covid pandemic.

In total an incredible 250 nominations were submitted and after much thought and consideration a panel of judges has decided on three finalists for each of the 11 categories.

Here are the three finalists in the Care Home Worker category:

• ANOTHER in the running for the Care Hero Worker award is Ann Reynolds who said she was thrilled to have been picked.

Ann, who has worked at Terry Spring Court in Redditch for the past eight years, said she had worked in caring for “some time now”and found it to be a very worthwhile job.

She said the pandemic had been a challenging time for all, particularly as residents weren’t able to see their families during lockdowns. But she said she absolutely loves her job adding: “I just wished I would have found this type of job when I was younger, as I would have gone into nursing.”

The 65-year-old, who lives in Redditch, said she was “really excited” to have been chosen as a finalist.

“I can’t really believe it,” she said. “I don’t feel I deserve it because I enjoy the job, and I think ‘why me?’. I work with a great team of people at Terry Spring, we are all hard workers, help each other out, and I’m really happy to be working there with them.”

• MARTINA Bray has been described as a “lifeline” by her colleagues from Worcester care home, Regent Residential.

Staff at the St John’s care home say Martina turns her hand to any role to support her colleagues.

She is known for being devoted to her residents and going the extra mile.

Martina even comes in on her days off to transform the home’s gardens for her residents to enjoy during the summer.

Martina was another of our modest nominees who said they were “shocked” when they learned they had been selected as a finalist.

Martina said: “I feel touched that I have been nominated for this award and shocked to have been shortlisted.

“Regent is like my second family.”

• BRENDA Grundy said hearing the news she was a finalist in the category “did not sink in at first”.

Brenda works in the housekeeping team, as a carer, working in the kitchen and supporting with activities at Westmead Residential Care Home.

Staff at the Droitwich-based care home described her as the “mother hen” of Westmead, who radiates positivity every day.

They said Brenda is also a “phenomenal support” to both the residents she cares for and colleagues, devoting so many hours of her spare time to the home.

Speaking on being selected as one of the Care Home Worker finalists, Brenda said: “I was so shocked to hear I had been shortlisted – it didn’t sink in at first.

“It’s very exciting and a really nice surprise to be picked.”