Cairn Group

Steve Massey, operations manager at North East-based Popular Care and Solehawk, has been invited to a special event at the House of Lords in recognition of his contribution to the social care sector during the Covid pandemic.

Steve is a finalist in the Social Care Covid Hero category of the Great British Care Awards and will be hosted at an afternoon tea reception by Lord Palmer of Childs Hill OBE. He will join a number of other social care leaders, as well as inspirational frontline staff, all of whom made a significant contribution to ensure people were well looked after during the peak of the Pandemic.

Joining Popular Care and Solehawk in March 2020 - just as Covid reared its head and the UK headed in to its first lockdown - Steve had a tough job on his hands, and has been described as ‘at the forefront of all Covid related issues within all the nine homes he has responsibility for.’

In the award nomination, which was composed by colleagues, it said that Steve ‘is ever present for all of the managers no matter what time of day or night, working tirelessly to ensure that each has the right level of support.’ Steve was praised for ‘quickly introducing systems of enhanced cleaning and PPE stock maintenance, and was forward thinking enough to understand that these would become issues.’

He is cited as ‘ensuring that residents and families were able to keep contact by sourcing the correct IT equipment’ and ‘supporting managers to make those difficult decisions that we knew families would find hard to accept around access to their loved ones.’

Richard Adams, HR director, said: “Steve has been the rock for our care homes throughout the pandemic, which was an incredibly challenging time for everyone involved in the care sector.

“He is always there to support everyone in the team no matter their position, and is always prepared to go the extra mile to help. Steve is very modest, and I don’t think he always realises just how valued he is by everyone at Solehawk and Popular Care.

“I am delighted that he has been invited to the House of Lords in recognition of his contribution to care. It’s well deserved. Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award when there are so many people who did so much during the most trying times of the pandemic is an amazing achievement, but I believe he would be a very deserving winner.”

Steve said: “I am overwhelmed to have been invited to meet Lord Palmer at the House of Lords and to reach the final of these awards. I just wish I could take every single member of our care home teams. They carried out tireless work caring for our residents during what was a very worrying time.

“None of us had any idea what was in front of us and I am grateful for the support I received from the company, and from colleagues. Now that life is returning to normal it’s fantastic to see our homes open up again, family and friends visiting and lots of activities happening once again.”

The Great British Care Awards are a series of regional events throughout the UK and are a celebration of excellence across the care sector. The purpose of the awards is to pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF POPULAR CARE

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

Popular Care is a care home provider established in 2006 with homes across the North East of England and Scotland. It operates four homes, caring for those in need of residential, nursing, respite and palliative care with additional experience in learning difficulties, and specialist illnesses such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

(https://www.popularcare.co.uk/)