Susan Chadwick from Yew Trees in Dukinfield reaches the finals of the UK Care Awards.

When Susan Chadwick accepted the role as Care Centre Manager for Yew Trees in Dukinfield, little did she realise that she would be recognised as a rising star in the Special Needs Manager category of the Caring Times & Christie & Co Care awards 2005.

Susan Chadwick is a dedicated and enthusiastic Special Needs Manager of a specialist Elderly Mentally Infirm unit at Yew Trees Care Centre in Dukinfield, Cheshire. She has followed the company’s career development programme, progressing from Care Assistant in 1980 to her current role as Care Centre Manager at Yew Trees. Susan is trained in the following: First Aid, Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Fire Safety, NVQ D32/33, Moving and Handling, Dementia Care, Safe Handling of Medicines, Action Elder Abuse and a BTEC in Creative Therapy. Alongside developing her own knowledge Susan trains her staff in care practice and safety procedures.

Susan has been proactive in ensuring that there are additional activities and resources tailored to meet the needs and requirements of specialist needs clients. These changes include having two specialist activities coordinators and have been instrumental in encouraging a more creative approach to helping those clients with dementia, as it helps each individual to express their feelings as well as stimulating thought and helping them to maintain interest in their surroundings.

Susan’s ability to involve everyone, from the care team and the senior team, to relatives and healthcare professionals demonstrates her commitment and dedication to ensuring her clients receive the very best care possible.

All at Meridian Healthcare support Susan’s nomination and wish her the very best of luck in the awards which will be announced at a Gala dinner in London on 26th November.