A mum-of-two who works at Milford House said she is ecstatic to have won an award less than a year after beginning her career in care.
Jolene Wimbleton, 36, won the Care Newcomer award at the Great East Midlands Care Awards, held on November 19 at The Nottingham Belfry hotel.
She said: “I’m ecstatic – it’s the first time I’ve done any care work and at the age of 36 I wasn’t expecting to win. I’m thrilled to be able to make a difference.
“I’m really pleased that I could find a job that has made my family proud.”
Jolene (pictured right) who lives in Ilkeston, started her career at Milford House – part of the Milford Care group – in December last year. Before that she has brought up her two young children, aged five and six.
Jolene was nominated for the award by residents and was interviewed by a panel of judges before being announced as the winner at the special ceremony.
Milford Care had a total of 20 of its staff nominated for an award.
There were two other winners: Richard Glover, a chef at Ashbourne Lodge, won the Care Home Cook/Chef Award, and Josephine Morones, a nurse who works across the company’s homes, won the Palliative Care/End of Life Award.
Sam Palmer, from Milford Care, said: “The ceremony was a great event and it was fantastic to see three of our staff pick up awards.”
