Baaal-housie activities co-ordinator Tanya up for award
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AN ACTIVITIES coordinator working for a care group in Huntly has reached the finals of the National Care Awards.
Tanya Smith of Balhousie Care Group has been nominated in the care activities coordinator category.
That is designed to reward someone who has made “an exceptional contribution to the quality of life, health and happiness of all the people they support through activities”.
Tanya hit national headlines earlier this year with an activity she runs annually at the Aberdeenshire home - inviting newborn lambs in for some animal therapy with residents.
The story, which first broke in the Express, was picked up by ITV’s This Morning, BBC TV, Radio Scotland and Radio 4.
Tanya, who this year reached the finals of both the RCNi Nurse Awards and Scottish Social Services Awards, said: “I’m thrilled to be nominated for work that I love doing day in, day out.
"Catering to the individual activity needs of residents, offering person-centred care and seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces just makes my day.”
A fellow Balhousie colleague, Lavinia Tanu of Balhousie Pitlochry care home has been shortlisted in the Carer category.
Lavinia and Tanya will meet a judging panel on October 11 in London. The National Care Awards winners will be announced at a glittering gala night on November 28 at the Hilton Metropole in London, with more than 700 guests in attendance.
Jill Kerr, group chief executive officer of Balhousie Care Group, said: “At Balhousie Care Group we call our staff Everyday Heroes and it’s a phrase that speaks volumes. It sums up the respect we have for the devotion of staff like Lavinia and Tanya who are at the frontline of care, delivering to the diverse and changing needs of our residents on a daily basis across 25 homes."
