Lancaster Grange Care Home's Head of Housekeeping Nicola Hade won the Hospitality Champion of the Year category at the 2018 Barchester Care Awards

A local woman from Lancaster Grange Care Home has won a national care accolade.

Nicola Hade, Head of Housekeeping at Lancaster Grange Care Home in Newark, has been crowned as the national winner in the Hospitality Champion of the Year category at the 2018 Barchester Care Awards.

The awards celebrate staff and volunteers that go the extra mile for the benefit of residents and patients living in Barchester care homes and independent mental health hospitals.

The company is one of the United Kingdom's largest care providers and employees over 17,000 people.

A the event, categories ranged from Registered Nurse of the Year to Team of the Year and more than 1,500 nominations were received from colleagues in Barchester homes and hospitals across the United Kingdom.

After being short-listed as one of four divisional winners, Nicola was interviewed by a panel of judges for the final round.

She then joined the other divisional winners from across the UK at an awards ceremony in October, where she was awarded the national prize, and was presented with the trophy and a £500 gift voucher by Barchester’s CEO Pete Calveley.

Irene Lewis, Hospitality Operations Manager at Barchester and a judge for the category, said: “First impressions and high standards are very important to her (Nicola) and she likes the home to look spotless and homely every day for residents and visitors.

"Nicola, humbled and shy, told me she did not understand why she had been nominated, because it is what she is paid to do.

"But we wanted to recognise her for the support she has provided to Barchester homes over the years.

"Sharing her knowledge and taking such pride in her work, we are so grateful for everything you do.”

After winning the award, Nicola said: “I am very proud and very honoured to be receiving this award.

"We work hard here at Barchester with a focus on the people we care for, and not for accolades, but it really is very special to be recognised in this way.”