A sales expert who swapped careers to work in the care sector after spending time looking after her beloved in-laws has been shortlisted for a top award.

Christine Ivins made the life-changing career switch just before she reached retirement age.

She now offers a beacon of hope for others considering entering the care world, say her bosses who have nominated her for a care sector ‘Oscar’.

Christine left behind a successful career in marketing to fulfil her true vocation and says her new role at Hallmark Regency House Care Home, Cardiff, has completely re-energised her.

Even though she is now in her mid-sixties and eligible to sit back and retire, she has no intention of giving up ‘the most rewarding job of her life’.

The proud mum of two grown up sons, Sean and Jake, said: “I will continue for as long as I am in good health. This is absolutely what I am meant to do.”

Her passion and natural aptitude for care work has so impressed her employers that they have recommended her for recognition at the 2025 Wales Care Awards.

The ‘event is organised by Care Forum Wales which represents more than 400 independent health and social care providers across the nation.

Winners will be revealed at a glittering dinner and ceremony at Holland House Hotel, Cardiff, on Friday, October 17.  Meddyg Care is the overall sponsor for the evening.

Christine is nominated for the Excellence in a supporting function accolade, sponsored by Silverlink.

She did not just change jobs but completely re-trained after being inspired by looking after her in-laws – both diagnosed with dementia – during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She explained: “I came into care later in life after spending over several decades in sales and marketing. It was a career I loved but everything changed during the pandemic when I was made redundant.

“Around the same time my former in-laws needed some extra support. I’d always been close to them and was more than happy to step in and be there for them.

“What I didn’t expect was how much that experience would completely change me. Seeing the difference that consistent, compassionate care made to their happiness and safety was incredibly powerful. I felt a real sense of purpose. It lit a spark in me.”

Undaunted by the challenges of entering a completely new career in her mid-60s she was determined to qualify as a professional carer.

She said: “It’s never too late to find your true calling or make a change if your heart tells you it’s right. I worked hard to gain my QCF Level 3 qualification and threw myself into learning everything I could, to do things properly and make a real difference.”

Having started in domiciliary care  she is now Hallmark Regency House Customer Relationship Manager, the first point of contact for families making the difficult decision for a loved one to move into care.

Nominating her for a Wales Care Award, Regency House general manager Georgiana Ionescu said Christine’s achievement is not just a professional milestone but a reflection of her unshakable commitment to excellence and her deep respect for those she cares for.

She said: “Christine has brought not just her skills, but her heart, to every interaction.

“Her life experience, emotional wisdom, and late-blooming passion give her a unique perspective, one that enriches the lives of residents and their families in ways that only someone with her depth of understanding can comprehend.

“Christine’s story is more than inspiring—it’s a beacon of hope. It proves that age is no barrier to purpose, that compassion has no expiration date.

“She is living proof that care is not just a job, it’s a vocation that can find you at any time.”

Christine gently eases the pathway into care for residents and their concerned families, engaging with them in the same compassionate way as she would want her own family treated.

She assesses each resident’s unique needs, ensuring their move is not just a change of address but a transition to a place where they feel they belong and are made comfortable.

She coordinates move-ins, arranges residents’ rooms according to their personal tastes, daily routines and mobility needs.

She said: “Moving into a care home is such a big life step, not just for the resident, but for their whole family. If I can make that experience less overwhelming, more personal, and more human, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”

“I feel so lucky. I get to combine my previous experience in communication and building relationships with my passion for care.

“Supporting residents and their families through one of the most emotional decisions they’ll ever make is a privilege I’ll never take for granted.”

She feels hugely honoured to have been nominated for an award. But she sees the fact that she has been shortlisted as testimony to the value of the actual role she does rather than being about her individual achievements.

She said: “For me, this isn’t about personal recognition. It’s about the residents I support and the families I walk alongside every day. It’s about being part of a home that’s full of warmth, dignity, and community. That’s what I’m most proud of.

“I’m part of an incredible team. We all work together to create a place that feels like home, where people are seen, heard, and valued.”

She is hoping to attend the awards ceremony with her partner of 28 years, Tim, who has been a constant support to her throughout her career change.

Chair of Care Forum Wales, Mario Kreft MBE, said of the awards: “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 care in society.

“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award.”