A “dedicated” service manager at a charity hailed for giving people a voice was left “stunned” after scooping two prestigious awards.
Sam Dodd was described as having an “infectious passion” for her role at Cartref Ni Ltd in St Asaph, where she strives to get the best out of herself and her colleagues.
The organisation helps people with learning disabilities live active, independent and fulfilling lives. Sam oversees the day-to-day management of a number of supported living services and is responsible for four different houses.
Her role also involves managing teams of staff, supporting and guiding them to provide the best possible quality service.
Sam’s “exceptional” contribution to the team led to the 36-year-old from Rhyl, Denbighshire being shortlisted in the 2025 Wales Care Awards – dubbed the Oscars of social care – sponsored by Meddyg Care.
Sam not only won silver in the Excellence in Palliative and End of Life Care Award – a category sponsored by SilverCrest Care, but she also earned herself a gold Dignity in Care Award sponsored by the Welsh Government.
The event took place at Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on Friday, October 17 in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most.
The glittering event paid tribute to the frontline heroes of social care.
Sam, who joined Cartref Ni Ltd in 2019 has been involved in the care sector since leaving school, initially supporting adults with learning disabilities.
Mum-of-one, Sam later progressed within her career to manage residential homes for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.
The nomination was from “the whole team” in one of the houses that Sam directly manages, as well as some family members who hailed her “excellent leadership.”
The team said: “Sam ensures the codes of practice are embedded in our work and asks us for examples which helps us keep our knowledge relevant and be accountable for our work and actions.”
Sam volunteered to be part of a small group devising, developing and then delivering a new Person Centred Practice training programme within Cartref Ni.
There, she set points in people’s minds and challenged them to reflect on their own practice testing whether they are really being person-centred in their approach. “Her passion for this is infectious, this was evident in the response from those who attended the session,” one colleague said.
Others described Sam as “energetic,” “inspiring” and “approachable” with a “natural warm leadership style” that makes people “want to follow her lead.”
Sam regularly attends the Learning Disability Wales conference and has actively encouraged people with disabilities to attend to ensure they have a voice and an opportunity to thrive.
She has also involved them in a recruitment campaign which resulted in being part of a presentation at a local further education college – and even arranged a paddleboarding session.
Sam was praised for going “above and beyond and exceeding expectations of her role,” with her end of life care of one dying individual.
She was there for the family throughout and even supported her team when the person died on New Year’s Day.
A family member of one of the individuals supported under Sam’s management said: “Right from our initial meeting Sam was open, welcoming, knowledgeable, funny and had a warmth about her that put me as a parent struggling if making the correct decision for her age wise adult son but child like vulnerable son at ease.
“Nothing since that time has changed my opinion or perception of Sam, she is always at the end of the phone and will go above and beyond to try and accommodate or help with any concerns or situations that occur and believe me, over the last seven months we have had some very difficult times to go through.
“Sam has been supportive and empathetic to not only my son but to myself.”
Reacting to the news of winning the silver and gold awards, Sam said: “I absolutely did not expect to win one award, let alone two.
“I was so stunned and overwhelmed. I still don’t think I’ve got over the shock. I took my mum with me and we couldn’t stop crying, it was so lovely to share that moment with her.
“I’m really pleased, it is a real honour to be recognised among so many inspirational people within the care industry.”
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of the Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards once again shone a light on the “unsung heroes and heroines” who make a vital difference to the lives of vulnerable people across the nation.
He said: “For more than 30 years, Care Forum Wales has worked tirelessly to champion the social care sector.
“The Wales Care Awards underlines the importance of the sector – it’s the glue that binds our communities together, both socially and economically.
“Our mission has always been to be the voice of social care in Wales to stand up for the workforce and ensure their dedication is properly recognised.”
A special moment in the evening when Mair Elis-Thomas, widow of the late Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, took to the stage to present one of the awards.
According to Mr Kreft it was a touching gesture that reflected Lord Elis Thomas’s long standing support for the Wales Care Award and for social care more broadly.
“Dafydd was a passionate believer in the power of the arts to enrich lives and support wellbeing and mental health,” said Mr Kreft. “He is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on – not only through his contribution to public life as a Presiding Officer, but also through the positive impact he had on so many communities.”
