The team has been shortlisted in the Care Home Team Award category at the Great British Care Awards for the East Midlands region. The awards celebrate excellence across the care sector, recognising teams and individuals who make a positive difference to the lives of the people they support.
The shortlisting follows previous recognition for the team, which won the Trust, Helping Hand Award at the Cygnet Group achievement awards for its commitment to collaboration, co-production and innovation.
Sophie Hill, Manager, said: “We are all delighted to receive this recognition and are really proud to have been shortlisted.
“At The Pines, all staff work closely with residents, their families and those important to them to develop opportunities that reflect individual interests, needs and aspirations. Their approach places residents at the heart of decisions about their lives, with an emphasis on building independence, maintaining relationships and enabling people to take part in meaningful experiences.”
One example of this approach was the team’s support in making a family holiday possible after parents shared that they missed being able to go away with their loved one but did not feel confident managing the trip alone. By accompanying the resident, the team enabled the family to enjoy valuable time together.
The team has also established a much-loved annual pantomime, bringing residents together in a fully inclusive production. Each person is given a role suited to their communication needs, abilities and interests, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate and showcase their talents.
Other Cygnet Social Care services are invited to attend the performances, which are followed by a party and buffet, with fundraising activities supporting charity.
“The event reflects the team’s commitment to creating an environment where residents feel involved, have their achievements celebrated and can build confidence through shared experiences,” Sophie explained.
The Great British Care Awards’ Care Home Team Award recognises teams that demonstrate a shared vision, effective leadership and strong working relationships. It celebrates services where staff take responsibility, communicate openly and draw on one another’s strengths, while upholding residents’ dignity, privacy and individual choices.
Sophie added: “For all of us at Pines, the recognition reflects the collective effort of a team that values the contribution of every colleague and actively involves residents, relatives and carers in shaping the service.
“It means a great deal to see the work of the whole team recognised, particularly because so much of what makes Pines special happens in the everyday moments that matter to residents and their families.
“We take time to understand what is important to each person and work together to turn their wishes into opportunities, whether that means helping a family spend time away together or making sure every resident has a part to play in our annual pantomime. These experiences are about much more than the activity itself; they are about choice, belonging, confidence and being able to enjoy life in ways that are meaningful to each individual.
“I am proud of the way our team shares ideas, supports one another and brings different skills and perspectives to the service. Our residents and their families are central to that work, and this shortlisting is a wonderful recognition of everything we achieve together.”
East Midlands regional winners will be announced on 23 November at EMCC Nottingham.