CARING BOSS IS A ‘GOLDEN GUARDIAN ANGEL’

Llandysul surgery practice manager Ann Johnson is the first ever winner of Carmarthenshire’s Caring Boss gold award.

Carers operating out of the surgery heaped glowing praise on Ann for being a “wonderful caring manager” leading to her collecting her trophy at a celebratory carers workshops day at The Plough, Rhosmaen. The event was jointly organised by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Department of Communities and Crossroads Care Carers Trust.

One carer explained how when her mother was admitted to hospital 200 miles away for 17 weeks Ann stepped in to help cover shifts like a golden guardian angel. “I was told ‘just go and do what you have to do.’

“Having such a caring and understanding boss was genuinely such a tremendous help at a traumatic period.

“I cannot personally say thank you enough for the support I received and these awards are a wonderful platform for me to say so publically.”

Silver Caring Boss award winner was Lynn Howells, manager of Eiriol Mental Health Advocacy, Carmarthen. One employee described her “as a rock” helping her through family illness and bereavement with kindness and flexibility despite having personal traumas of her own.

Joint Bronze Award winners were Dr Lois Gravell of the Llwynhendy Health Centre and Robert Brain of the Carmarthenshire County Council Carefirst Team.

Dr Gravell was described in a testimonial as being “compassionate, caring and flexible” and allowing her employee to achieve goals within realistic time scales when faced with a domestic health crisis.

Mr Brain’s nominator said she would never forget the compassion and genuine concerns for her wellbeing when having to deal with shared care responsibilities for her father’s terminal illness reducing enormous pressures by being allowed to work occasionally from home.

Carmarthenshire carer’s officer Jonathan Rees who organised the awards said: “Tremendous sacrifices are made by Carmarthenshire’s silent army of 24,000 unpaid carers and in many cases supported by sympathetic and understanding employers.

“It is important to recognise, where carers juggle with a career with the support of their employers, the massive contribution their bosses often chose make. The purpose of these awards is to highlight those silently made heartfelt gestures that enable staff to cope though harrowing times and continue with their caring careers.

“The event is to become an annual one in partnership with Crossroads and they would be delighted to hear from anyone who can recommend an employer or manager who has demonstrated support or understanding for a carer in the county.

Crossroads chief executive Martin Morris said there was so much compassionate management by bosses that went unheralded that the awards was a wonderful platform for carers to shout about the respect, dignity, compassion and flexibility their bosses.

“Without this valiantly staunch support I have no doubt many carers would have to give up and abandon their careers,” he said.