From nominee to judge. My journey with the Proud to Care Awards
By Warren Ingram – Area Manager, East Midlands
Last year I nominated the Arun Dale Team in Mansfield for the Care Team of the Year award as part of the Proud to Care Awards Nottinghamshire. I had seen first-hand the compassion, dedication and respect they showed while supporting someone in their care who sadly passed away. Her family shared some beautiful words about the support they received, and I made sure to include those in my nomination. Out of hundreds of entries, the Arun Dale Team became a finalist, which was an incredible moment for all of us.
This year things were a little different for me. Because I was the person who wrote that nomination, the organisers contacted me and asked if I would like to be part of the judging panel for the 2025 Care Awards. I was genuinely honoured.
I was really pleased to be invited. It felt like recognition that my voice mattered and that I could help celebrate the amazing work happening across our community.
During the panel meeting, I worked alongside council staff, service managers, social workers, and other professionals to review nominations across several categories, including Newcomer of the Year, Long Service Award, and Outstanding Support Worker.
We each read through the nominations, shared our thoughts, and then discussed who we felt should make the shortlist. I expected a few disagreements but honestly, most of us were on the same page. It was reassuring to see so much agreement about who deserved recognition.
This year FitzRoy has been nominated for Team of the Year, which is something we are all proud of. Because of that, I stepped out of judging that category to make sure everything stayed fair and impartial.
It felt strange to leave the room for part of the discussion, but I had no idea which teams were being considered. It was all kept completely confidential and I think that is exactly how it should be.
Being part of the judging panel meant more to me than just helping choose finalists. It gave me the chance to celebrate the incredible work happening across the sector, connect with professionals in the area, and strengthen relationships that can only help FitzRoy in the future.
It was a real privilege to be part of the panel. Listening to so many uplifting stories reminded me of why we do what we do in care. It was inspiring.
I am really looking forward to attending the awards celebration in November. I cannot wait to see the winners announced and to be part of a night that shines a spotlight on the amazing dedication of care teams and individuals across our community.