Award for care home

Naz Manji has 40 full time staff at the home in Middlesex Road looking after 32 residents.

The Great British Care Awards were presented at a gala evening in the Dome in Brighton and are sponsored by key industry professionals and organisations such as the Department of Health and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS).

Naz said: “This year has been really special for me and Bay House. I celebrated my fifth anniversary in charge earlier in the year, and I thought that was exciting enough, but now winning this coveted award tops everything.

“I’m over the moon and tremendously proud of everybody involved at Bay House.”

Naz was nominated by a number of multi-disciplinary professionals as well as relatives of residents.

These nominations meant that he was shortlisted as a finalist in the category of Care Employer of the Year (under 250 employees).

The next stage involved an intense interviewing process followed by the awards ceremony on Friday attended by more than 500 people in the field of social care, when Naz was accompanied by manager Claire Avery, the rest of the management team and three long-serving staff.

Naz said: “At Bay House we have a philosophy of care and five star values which ensure individuals receive the high level of care their situation requires. Our care meets extremely high standards, which this Award recognised, and satisfies the full range of physical, clinical, personal, social, spiritual and emotional needs of each individual.

“As a home from home, Bay House encourages residents to entertain their own guests and invite them to join them for lunch or an evening meal.

“Quality of life may change but is just as important in later years.”

In January this year Naz was thrilled to have a phone call from seven staff members worried that heavy snow would make it impossible to get to work in the morning. They wanted to sleep overnight in the lounge to be sure of being there to care for residents the next day.

He said: “There are some fantastic outcomes for people who are here. They just smile. There is a vibrant atmosphere. We are very busy - it’s not one of those homes you go in and your feet stick to the carpet, there’s a smell of old cabbage, and people are laying back in their chairs.

“There is stuff going on here. There is always something going on.”

PICTURED - President of ADASS Peter May with Naz and tv presenter Jeff Brazier