A care home worker has been short-listed for a Great British Care Award.

May Chowdhury, a home trainer at Hengist Field Care Home in Borden, near Sittingbourne, is through to the finals of the national awards in the Social Care Covid Hero category.

It's a special accolade for 2020, which will be awarded to an individual, team or employer which has gone above and beyond during the pandemic.

May joined Hengist Field, in Pond Farm Road, in 2017 as a care assistant before progressing to senior carer and then home trainer in 2019.

The 37-year-old said: “I feel very humbled to be short-listed for this award. It’s been a very difficult year for the social care sector but we have an amazing team at Hengist Field and rallied together to ensure the residents were as safe and comfortable as possible.

“I decided to take the decision to live in the home for some time during the pandemic to help as best I could.

“We’re a family and it’s been amazing to see how the staff and residents have pulled together and supported one another when facing adversity. I’d like to take the opportunity to commend all my fellow colleagues for their incredible work this year; you’ve all been amazing.”

Her nomination included comments about how May is “renowned by all for her all-round passion, dedication and continuous support to residents and staff alike”.

It added: “The enforced lockdown didn’t deter May from continuing to provide the very best care for Hengist Field’s residents, as she made the bold, selfless decision to live in the home for two weeks during the pandemic.

“It is this bravery and determination to put the safety of others before herself that makes May such a valued and likeable figure at the home.”

Hengist Field is part of the Nellsar Care Group, which has 11 homes in Kent.

The Great British Care Awards are a celebration of excellence across the care sector, focussed specifically on paying tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

Winners will be announced during the regional Great British Care Awards gala evening, set to take place in April 2021.

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