STAFF at a care and nursing home in Dawlish were delighted to win two prestigious care awards in the space of just a few days.

They were named ‘Care Team of the Year’ in the national Caring UK Awards at a glittering awards ceremony, hosted by Emmerdale actor Dean Andrews, at The Athena in Leicester.

And the manager of Sefton Hall, Gabriela Ogreanu, was surprised with an award for Exceptional Leadership from the South West Academic Health Science Network.

She said: ‘The leadership award was presented unexpectedly during a training online seminar.

‘I am thrilled to have been recognised in this way.

‘I am also so pleased for the team to have won the Care Team of the Year award.

‘But our best achievement as a home is to see our residents, their families and friends giving such good feedback from the service they are receiving – especially in the past two years of the pandemic.

‘It’s good to hear from them that they feel there is a high level of care and that they feel valued, listened to and that their views matter.’

The Caring UK Awards recognise excellence and achievement within the care sector across the UK.

They are organised by Script Events in conjunction with leading care industry magazine Caring UK, with support from headline sponsor Virgin Money.