A care home manager praised for her “compassion and understanding” was named Healthcare Hero of the Year at the Moray & Banffshire Heroes Awards.
Leanne Stephen, who leads the team at Weston View Care Home in Keith, was presented with the accolade at the event which was held in the Banff Springs Hotel.
She worked at Wakefield House Care Home for 10 years before taking over at Weston View and achieved her “ultimate goal” of becoming a care home manager.
Leanne, who lives in Buckie, said: “I worked at Wakefield House Care Home in Cullen for many years where I was a carer, a shift leader, a nurse and then I was manager.
“I then moved to Weston View Care Home in Keith in December last year where I took over as manager.
“I absolutely love my work. When I qualified as a nurse, I always knew I'd be a care home nurse.
“Then my ultimate goal was always to become a care home manager.
“I love the team that I work with. I don't think the care staff get enough recognition for what they actually do.
“They work incredibly hard and I don't think people realise how hard they actually work. As a care home manager, I couldn't be prouder of my team.
“It's been incredible taking over at Weston View. It's a different home, a different environment, different residents, but the same job. I'm just as passionate about being at Weston View as I was at Wakefield.
“It was a real shock to win the award. The event has been incredible and it's so good to see the community coming together and appreciating all the unsung heroes.
“Ultimately, I take this award for my team. If I'm a hero, my team are heroes.”
Leanne was praised for her “compassion and understanding” in a nomination for Healthcare Hero of the Year.
She was nominated for the “wonderful care and support” she gave to a grieving family when their mum was at Parklands’ Wakefield House.
A nomination said: “Leanne and her team at Wakefield went above and beyond providing such a high level of support to us when our mum was dying. Dad then became very unwell.
“Leanne visited him in hospital and the team at Wakefield provided wonderful care and support for both dad and us. I cannot thank Leanne and her whole team enough for the care, compassion and understanding that we all received from them.”
Leanne trained as a nurse in her 30s after starting a family and has always been drawn to the care sector. Her first job after leaving school was in a care home.
“I love the people I work with and the residents I look after,” Leanne added.
“Residents have lived full, extraordinary lives and still teach me something new every day.
“Families place their trust in us during the most emotional moments of their life and the staff are incredible, compassionate hard-working teams who show up every day with kindness and dedication, even when the work is tough.”
Orchard Road Dental Practice in Forres sponsored the Healthcare Hero of the Year award.
Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.