Llandudno woman nominated for top care award

Oct 6 2011 North Wales Weekly News

AS A teenage care home worker Lucie Williams felt uncomfortable with the way some staff didn’t give priority to the needs of the residents.

So when she started her own care agency she put this at the top of her priorities.

And it’s one of the reasons she has been nominated for an industry award.

She has been shortlisted in the category for leadership and management in supported living or small group community living in the Wales Care Awards.

The awards, which will be presented at a ceremony in Cardiff’s City Hall on October 21, are organised by Care Forum Wales, and Lucie’s category is sponsored by Christie and Co.

Lucie, 30, from Llandudno, first worked in care homes at the age of 16 and carried on working in the care sector until she was 22.

She left to work in retail for three years, before establishing Calon Lan Community Care, with her brother Noel.

“It distressed me at times when I first started work in the home and it made me determined to make sure our staff put the clients first. I feel passionately about it,” she said.

Though she is kept busy managing the company she enjoys “keeping her hand in” and enjoys the care aspect of her role and is always on call to cover for colleagues.

“I started at the bottom and so have filled every role,” she said.

The agency provides home care for the elderly, adults with physical disabilities, people with dementia and learning disabilities.

Initially the staff consisted of only Lucie and a handful of part-time carers, but since 2006 it has expanded to 100 employees covering the whole of North Wales.

She was nominated for the award by colleagues Garry Williams, Tracey Greenfield and Heather Johnson, who described her as “a great role model for junior and senior members of the team”.

Heather, a care support manager for 10 years, said she was “approachable, professional and very competent in the management of care provision”.

She added: “As a registered manager Lucie leads by example and ensures she is up to date with all legislative requirements and ensures that quality improvement is an ongoing process and includes the views of all members of staff.”