Home Care Worker of the Year at the Great British Care Awards 2024 – ‘Highly Commended’ Mary Prentice

Highly Commended for The Great British Care Awards

On 9th November 2024, Operations Director, Jack Gardiner, and Co-ordinator, Donna Crompton, took themselves down to Manchester for the Great British Care Awards to celebrate our Carer of the Year, Mary Prentice, becoming a finalist for the ‘Home Care Worker’ Award of 2024! Mary received second place, and was nominated as Highly Commended for the award. The Great British Care Awards stated: “Mary is an inspiring leader, whose adaptability and expertise in care have truly stood out. She now plays a key role in upskilling new staff, ensuring they deliver the exceptional care that service users deserve. Her contributions, combined with training from MerseyCare Julie Ann, have had a remarkable impact on new team members.”

About Mary

Mary Prentice has worked for MerseyCare Julie Ann since 2015, and ever since then, she has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional care. When Mary started at MerseyCare Julie Ann, she had young twin daughters who have just recently turned eighteen; she managed to juggle being both an amazing carer to the service users, and a devoted mum. Mary provides care for a number of services users and has developed an incredible bond with her clients. Many of these clients she has been visiting since the start of her career and still to this day. This is a testament to how well she looks after and cares for her clients. Mary takes her career as a Care Assistant and Shadow Champion in her stride, both with providing excellent service and assisting our service users to remain independent in their homes, to showing our new care staff the ropes, ensuring our future care assistants receive guidance and support that is unmatched. Mary was a key part in ensuring our service users received consistent care during the difficult COVID-19 pandemic and is somebody who can be relied on. She travels over 40 minutes each day by public transport with no complaints. One example where Mary has shown exceptional high quality support is with our 105 year-old service user, Barbara. Barbara came to us 15 years ago at the age of 90, looking for further support in the comfort of her own home, so that she can remain independent for as long as possible. Mary has provided care to Barbara for many years, with Barbara even explaining herself that she would not be able to live such a long life without the support of carers like Mary.

Reason for nomination

Mary has received a multitude of compliments from our staff and service users, including statements talking about her demeanour, and overall attitude to care and her outstanding work ethic. Over the past 9 years working for MCJA, Mary receives compliments and testimonials day in, day out, about the amazing service that she provides every day – it is no wonder she has become a finalist for the Great British Care Awards! Here are just a few of the incredible comments she has received over the years, which became the basis of her nomination for the Great British Care Awards:

Service users

“When I had to have knee replacements at the age of 90 & 91, I was put in touch with MerseyCare Julie Ann so that today, I can live in my own home and my family do not worry. So with visits from carers like Mary Prentice, I have company and care. I am often asked how do I account for my long life, I reply “moderation in all things” and carers who really care, like Mary. So, long live MerseyCare Julie Ann.” “She’s fabulous. Very caring and goes above and beyond. Nothing is too much for her. You can tell in her tone and the way she is; she has a caring attitude. I can also tell when a new carer has been shadowed by Mary, they pick up all the lovely tendencies she has.” “She’s brilliant and marvellous, she is terrific. She talks away to me and helps me with the jobs in the house. You couldn’t run a care company without her in charge. She has helped me drastically with my recovery. She is the best carer.”

Staff

“She is brilliant – I have known Mary for a long time. You can tell she is excellent at what she does as even the new staff ask to be shadowed by Mary – they want to learn from the best. Nothing is ever a bit of bother for her. She is loved by everyone, both service users and staff.” “Mary has worked for MCJA for nearly 10 years, she joined the service as part of our refer a friend scheme from a colleague. Mary is an embodiment of care and empathy, she is always keen to learn, is proactive and goes above and beyond to ensure her service users receive the highest level of support. Mary is patient, listens and strives to understand each person’s specific needs and tailors their care accordingly whilst promoting their independence and choice – she has mentored and trained her colleagues through shadowing to follow her example. I am very proud to have Mary as an employee and ambassador of our service. MCJA celebrates its best care workers monthly and annually; each Christmas, service users and colleagues nominate a carer of the year for outstanding service. Mary won MCJA’s carer of the year 2023, so we think it is only right to nominate her for the Home Care Worker Award 2024 for the Great British Care Awards.” Not only has Mary become a finalist for the Great British Care Awards 2024, but she has also been nominated for the “Care Employee Of The Year” for the Caring UK Awards 2024! Well done on this incredible achievement Mary – you should be incredibly proud.

Further information

Great British Care Awards

For more information about the Great British Care Awards, including nominees of 2024 and future awards, please click here.

Future Awards/Celebrations

To keep up to date with future awards and celebrations, please visit our ‘News’ section, which is updated weekly with important announcements and updates. Mary is also a finalist for the Caring UK Awards, so make sure to keep an eye on our ‘News’ page for an update!