The Care Hero Award recognises that all of our care workers in Worcestershire are heroes. Care workers make a difference to people’s lives every day and this award celebrates that.

Sponsored by: Worcestershire County Council

The 2023 awards will culminate in a black tie dinner for all the finalists at the Abbey Hotel in Malvern on Thursday, September 14, where the winners will be announced.

Here are your finalists:

Kate Lockwood

KATE Lockwood has worked at Sanctuary Care’s Westmead Residential Care Home for three years and invests so much time finding out who her residents are as individuals and what brings them joy, so she can enrich their lives through activities. One resident loves netball, so Kate arranged for a private netball tournament in the home’s carpark.

Another loves motorbikes, so Kate arranged for over 20 local bikers to bring their prized models to the home for a ‘meet’. Another of her residents lives with dementia and worked in a post office, so Kate persuaded their local branches to donate headed stationery and leaflets, and Kate created a mini post office, with a desk, computer, trays and envelopes.

Inspired by Glastonbury, every year Kate organises ‘Glastonmead’ to ensure residents have a summer to remember. She builds her own version of the Pyramid Stage with bunting and flags; residents have instruments, and they sing along to live music, with a stall doing fake tattoos and a bar.

Many residents also love animals, so Kate arranged for the winners of Crufts 2023 to visit with all their rosettes.

Debbie Roscoe

DEBBIE Roscoe has helped raise thousands of pounds to buy emergency first response vehicles after her daughter fell dangerously ill. Arrive Alive, a registered charity, which works with the ambulance service, was founded by the Birminghambased mother following her youngest daughter’s lifethreatening case of measles in 2017.

Her daughter, Ellie, has since battled numerous life-threatening illnesses and is reliant on a feeding tube to stay alive. During the darkest days in hospital when it was uncertain if Ellie would recover Debbie decided to channel her energy into something positive.

She set up the UK’s only charity dedicated to funding lifesaving voluntary operated 999 vehicles for West Midlands Ambulance Community First Responder groups. Initially the goal was to fund one vehicle for her area as a thank you for the wonderful care her daughter received.

Subsequently two vehicles were launched, but then lots of communities needed help from Arrive Alive. Debbie is a woman of great spirit and drive.

Fiona Rutherford

FIONA Rutherford runs Blossom homecare - Worcester. It is a domiciliary care provider in the Worcestershire area, providing people with care within their own homes.

She said: “I am overwhelmed and really grateful to be a finalist. I love my job at Blossom and I just want to give back to those that have worked so hard in their previous years. I feel everyone should have good quality care and feel valued and that is why I opened Blossom.”

Fiona started Blossom in memory of her late nan and grandad.

She said: “When I cared for my nan in her final weeks, and then my grandad it made me realise I would love to give back good quality care to the community.

“I have worked in healthcare for over 10 years or more and I do love making a difference to people’s lives. Domiciliary care has always been a passion of mine. We are family run and I want to continue the business for my children in the future.

“We have lovely staff and some wonderful clients. I ensure I am hands-on within my business to ensure we have consistent care within our team, and I value all the people that work here.”