A tech whizz who does an amazing job keeping 17 residential homes fully connected 24/7 has been shortlisted for a social care Oscar

Gavin Cording is the Head of IT with the Caron Group of care homes where he has been instrumental in upgrading the technology infrastructure.

Caron Group managing director Raam Joshi said Gavin’s expertise and approachable personality make him a perfect fit for the company which runs care homes across mid and south Wales.

Raam, along with group chairman Sanjiv Joshi, and director Jyoti Joshi, have now jointly nominated Gavin for a Wales Care Award, the winners of whom will be revealed at a glittering ceremony in October.

The red-carpet awards are affectionately known as the Oscars of the sector and are organised by Care Forum Wales to pay tribute to its often unsung frontline heroes and heroines.

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

Gavin is nominated for the excellence in a supporting function accolade, sponsored by Silverlink.

Raam had no hesitation putting Gavin’s name forward, saying: “Gavin’s forward-thinking approach to technology has greatly improved operations in our homes, benefiting both staff and residents. Our decision to nominate him reflects his outstanding commitment and exceptional leadership.

“He plays a key role in managing the IT systems that support our care services, he oversees the IT team, ensuring all systems are running smoothly and efficiently to support the care we provide.”

Dad of two Gavin, who lives in Ebbw Vale, says he loves his job as it enables him to combine his two passions in life:

“I’m into all things tech, it’s just where my natural skills set lies, I’m wired up for computer sciences I suppose. But in addition to that I’m a quite gregarious sort of person, I love being around people and hearing about their life stories, so working in the care sector is perfect for me as people are at the heart of everything we do.”

Gavin, 36, was among hundreds of nominees around Wales who went through an interview stage before being whittled down to a shortlist of awards finalists.

He said: “I felt genuinely humbled when told I’d been nominated, never mind made it to the shortlist. It’s a tribute to the dedication of all my team as well as myself.

“Much of our work happens behind the scenes, and we can be quite an introverted bunch. So, it’s nice to think our contribution hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Since Gavin joined the Caron Group three years ago he has overseen upgrades to the technology infrastructure, and is now leading the rollout of new digital care planning systems, enhancing how care is documented and delivered.

Raam said: “By replacing outdated software he has improved accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of care records.

“Gavin is also working to transition all our homes from analog phone systems to a modern Zoom-based communication platform. This improves call quality and enables better connectivity between staff across multiple locations.

“Crucially, it strengthens safeguarding measures by providing a more reliable and accessible communication system.

“Beyond his technical expertise, Gavin is always willing to help, offering guidance and support to staff at all levels. His approachable nature and commitment to problem-solving ensure IT challenges are quickly addressed, allowing teams to focus on delivering high-quality care.”

Chair of Care Forum Wales, Mario Kreft MBE,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 care in society.

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