A former supermarket assistant who was inspired to become a care worker after her grandad suffered a stroke has made the finals of one of social care\u2019s biggest awards events.<\/p>\n
Louise Wall, from Barry, has worked for All Care South Wales Ltd for almost 20 years after joining the organisation when her son started school.<\/p>\n
The 54-year-old care supervisor, who has an eight-year-old grandson, was motivated to help people after watching care workers support her grandfather, Reginald, in his home when he was left paralysed down one side following a stroke.<\/p>\n
Over almost two decades, she has supported dozens of service users with complex needs to achieve their dreams and gain more independence.<\/p>\n
The spotlight is now shining on her efforts with a place in the final of the Wales Care Awards, organised by care industry champions Care Forum Wales which supports more than 450 care homes, nursing homes and other independent health and social care providers across Wales.<\/p>\n
Louise has been nominated for the Leadership and Management\/Supported Living award, sponsored by Cartref Ni & Zenergi Ltd.<\/p>\n
She will now attend a glittering ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, October 21, hosted by popular tenor, Wynne Evans, best known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows I\u2019m not one for being the centre of attention \u2013 I don\u2019t like the limelight,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I got the phone call saying \u2018Lou \u2013 congratulations\u2019 I was shocked, but I do feel proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very rewarding job. What\u2019s more rewarding than helping someone to remain in their own homes? It would be my preference to remain in my own home for as long as possible and if I can help them to do the same that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019ve never had care workers in your home before you don\u2019t know what to expect. You have to put yourself in their shoes and if they were active before and have had that taken away from them, then that\u2019s going to be frustrating.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you go in and take that person out for the day and they\u2019re sitting there smiling, that\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. If I can make a difference, then that\u2019s what I\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Louise took on a number of jobs after leaving school including a job in the former Safeway supermarket before the business was sold and the betting shop William Hill.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my grandfather had a stroke I experienced first-hand care workers going into my nan\u2019s house to support him. I thought \u2018I\u2019m going to give this a go\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got myself a part-time job with All Care doing two mornings a week just to see if I liked it or not then it went from there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t regret it for a minute. This is the longest I\u2019ve stayed in one place. Care is very challenging but I\u2019m still up for that challenge and as long as I\u2019m still here doing what I\u2019m doing, I will still make that difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a care supervisor, Louise oversees the care packages of her clients, undertaking risk assessments and implementing risk management plans to ensure the individuals in her care receive the best service possible.<\/p>\n
Her clients span all age ranges and have complex needs such as dementia or mental\/physical disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cCare can be very challenging,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the pandemic, I found it very difficult and upsetting. A lot of people live on their own. I could feel their pain because I also live on my own but I could still get out to the supermarket. They weren\u2019t seeing anybody at all and it had an impact on their mental health and wellbeing to not have that social interaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people we support had lives prior to receiving care and we try to include a lot of the things they used to do. One lady simply wanted to visit her daughter instead of her daughter visiting her and we provided a package of care that enabled her to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Louise was nominated for the award by Wendy Harvey, care manager at All Care South Wales.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cLouise is part of the furniture here as she\u2019s she been with us for 20 years. When I nominated her she nearly had a heart attack. When she got through, I was more excited than her!<\/p>\n
\u201cShe works really hard and is very dedicated to her job even during the hard times like the pandemic when she couldn\u2019t visit her grandchild. She\u2019s caring, knowledgeable and deserves this so much. I\u2019m so glad I did it before she retired.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of\u00a0Care\u00a0Forum\u00a0Wales, said the aim of the Wales Care Awards was to recognise the unstinting and remarkable dedication of unsung heroes and heroines across\u00a0Wales.<\/p>\n
He said \u201cThe social\u00a0care\u00a0sector is full of wonderful people because it\u2019s not just a job, it\u2019s a vocation\u00a0\u2013 these are people who go the extra mile for others.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the Covid crisis, this fantastic workforce rose magnificently to the challenge, putting their own lives on the line to do everything they possibly could to safeguard the people for whom they provide\u00a0care.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, it has taken a global pandemic for many other people to realise how important and how significant our social\u00a0care\u00a0workforce is.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir incredible contribution was summed up best in the powerful and emotive words of the song, Heroes of our Heart, written by the acclaimed poet Mererid Hopwood and sung by Sir Bryn Terfel, which was set to the famous tune of Men of Harlech. The message that the diolch should last forever is one that we should never forget.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards people need and never recognise the value of people who need\u00a0care\u00a0in society.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the nominees deserve to be lauded and applauded and it\u2019s a real pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists.<\/p>\n
\u201cI congratulate all the individuals who have shown outstanding dedication and professionalism. Every one of them should be proud of their achievement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are\u00a0Wales\u2019s finest.\u201d<\/p>\n