Four years after setting up her own business to care for one individual, a Merthyr woman is in line to add to her growing collection of awards.
Sibusisiwe Lovis has been shortlisted for one of this year’s Wales Care Awards which recognise outstanding work in the care sector.
The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales and Sibusisiwe – known as Sibu – has been nominated in the category for leadership and management in a small group or supported living.
The presentation ceremony will be held on October 17 at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel, and Sibu’s category is sponsored by Cartref Ni The evening’s headline sponsors are Meddyg Care.
Sibu is the founder and driving force behind Live Well Healthcare, a domiciliary care provider which she established in 2021 to provide compassionate, high-quality care that enables individuals to live comfortably and independently in their own homes.
Having cared for a loved one who passed away, she shelved her own plans to train as a nurse to raise her two young children.
The agency, which is based in Swansea and serves much of South Wales, has supported over 200 individuals and in addition to her management role Sibu likes to maintain a “hands-on” approach, ensuring that she remain aware of individuals’ needs.
Her contribution to the health and social care sector has already been acknowledged as she has received the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association’s Award in Business, been named as Unsung Hero and a Big Ideas Wales Role Model.
She was nominated for the Wales Care Award by Beatrice Savadye, a coordinator with Live Well, and supported by colleagues, service users and members of the wider community who have seen the impact of her leadership.
“She is not just a leader but an innovator, implementing best practices that prioritise dignity, independence and holistic care,” said Beatrice.
Sibu, she said, had fostered a culture where care is extended well beyond physical needs and introduced a personalised recognition programme in which both service users and staff receive thoughtful gifts to mark, birthdays, anniversaries and special milestones.
A striking example of her hands-on approach was at Christmas when she personally delivered a festive meal to a service user whose family lives abroad. Instead of letting him spend the holiday alone she shared a meal with him and had a heartfelt chat. The impact on him was said to be profound.
“Sibusisiwe also understands the emotional toil that care-giving can have on the team,” said Beatrice . “To support their mental well-being , she personally shares mindfulness exercises and motivational messages in the staff WhatsApp group every morning, setting a positive tone at the start of each day.”
Sibu, 47, who is a former fitness instructor, still likes to keep fit and attends the gym regularly.
She is looking forward to attending the awards ceremony and is thrilled to have been nominated.
“It’s nice to have one’s work recognised and I get great satisfaction from seeing the changes we make to the quality of people’s lives,” she said. “That is very rewarding.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “Care Forum Wales has been working tirelessly for more than 30 years to promote the social care sector.
“We established the Wales Care Awards to show our appreciation to the workforce and the wider sector for the remarkable and vitally important contribution everybody makes, day in day out.
“The event underlines the importance of the social care sector. It is the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.
“Our mission is to be the voice of social care in Wales to advocate on the sector’s behalf, holding truth to power in order to secure a fair deal to recognise the dedication of our front line heroes and heroines across our nation.
“If you don’t value the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award.”
