Inverness dementia care worker wins place at national awards final
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The achievements of an Inverness care worker have been recognised with a place in the final of a national competition.
Fergal Naughton, of Highview House, has been crowned Dementia Carer of the Year for the North NE Division in the annual Barchester Care Awards.
He now goes through to the national finals in October when will join winners from across the UK at a special awards event.
The Barchester Care Awards celebrate the staff who go the extra mile for the benefit of the 13,000 residents living in its 252 care homes and private hospitals across the country.
Almost 4000 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK for categories including Dementia Care Champion, Registered Nurse of the Year, Carer of the Year and Activities Coordinator of the Year.
Highview House in Scorguie Avenue provides care for more than 70 older people including residents with dementia in the special Memory Lane section.
Mr Naughton "is over the moon" to have been named the winner for the north, beating hundreds of other nominees.
"It is an honour and a privilege to work with such a caring team here at Highview, and really I accept this reward on their behalf rather than my own," he said.
"I regard being nominated as testament to the quality of care we bring, not just in my unit but throughout the home."
General manager Elsbeth Russell said: "This is an amazing achievement and the whole home is supporting Fergal. "We are so proud of him.
"I think staff, residents and families will be united in appreciating the work that he does on Memory Lane, and I believe this is recognition for the wonderful care his unit provides."
