A YOUNG mum is proud her work keeping spirits up and standards high at a Radnorshire care home has been honoured with a national award.

Lucy Wheeler, who works at Crosfield House in Rhayader, was presented with the silver award in the category for ‘Excellence in Palliative and End of Life Care’ at the Wales Care Awards.

Hosted by popular tenor Wynne Evans, the glittering ceremony, dubbed the social care Oscars, took place at City Hall in Cardiff.

Lucy has been the lead clinician at Crosfield House, which is part of the Caron Group, for just over four years.

Currently on maternity leave following the recent birth of her daughter Charlotte, Lucy said she was delighted at the news of her nomination.

Speaking before the ceremony Lucy said: “It means a lot because my job means a lot to me and it's nice someone else has thought I do a good job too.

“I was absolutely gobsmacked. I did the interview for the care awards the day before I went on maternity leave and I thought ‘goodness, I won't even be able to get my name right’.”

Lucy, who plans to return to work after Christmas, does all the clinical audits, supervises all the nurses and conducts meetings with other health care professions at the 64-bed care home.

Originally from Birmingham, Lucy worked at a discharge liaison nurse on an acute ward at a hospital before moving to Mid Wales.

Nominating Lucy for the award, Wayne Rees, the manager of Crosfield House, said he had been impressed by her approach, clinical knowledge and most importantly her determination for the best level of care to be delivered to the residents.

He added that during the Covid-19 pandemic Lucy ensured staff were doing everything possible to keep residents safe and keep the virus out of the home.

“Being a 64-bed care home with over 100 staff, maintaining high levels of infection control to protect everyone has been so difficult; it impacted on staff morale having to gown up in multiple layers of personal protective equipment daily during really hot days,” said Wayne, who had also been nominated for an award.

“Lucy managed to maintain exemplary standards despite this and kept staff's spirits up and, although it was such a team effort, I feel that Lucy played such a big part in this and keeping everyone safe and healthy.”

Mario Kreft, chairman of Care Forum Wales, said the ceremony was all the more poignant because of the Covid pandemic and what front line staff had endured.

“Our finalists are the best of the best and are here representing the whole social care workforce who all deserve a big pat on the back," he said.