A care home deputy manager lauded by her bosses as a ‘shining example of good practice’ has won a prestigious bronze award at this year’s Wales Care Awards.

The awards pay tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines of social care, of which Julie Inch is definitely one, according to her colleagues.

Colleagues cheered as she received her accolade at the annual presentation night run by Care Forum Wales and known affectionately as the ‘Oscars’ of social care.

Julie, 59, of Aberdare, was honoured in the category for Excellence in Palliative and End of Life Care, sponsored by Silvercrest Care.

As well as being deputy manager, Julie is also the clinical lead at Hallmark Tŷ Porth care home in Porth, Rhondda Cynan Taff.

As a resident nears the end of their life Julie will always approach the situation ensuring the utmost dignity for them and their loved ones, discreetly seeking as much information as possible to ensure all their wishes are adhered to.

She was nominated for an award by Leah Howells, Business Support Manager with Hallmark Luxury Care Homes which owns Ty Porth.

Leah said Julie is a perfect role model for younger generations coming into the profession.

She said: “Julie sets the bar high. She pays attention to the finest details and has worked hard to train her team to meet a standard of care which she would want a member of her own family to receive.

“She ensures all our residents are treated as individuals with quality care, dignity and the respect that they deserve. She is a natural carer, a shining example of good practice”

Julie is especially known for her listening skills and ability to ascertain the needs of each individual and their family’s concerns.

She has risen through the ranks from junior care assistant in her teens, to obtain her nursing qualifications, and move up the ladder into a management role.

Inbetween it all she has raised a family of three grown up boys, Alfie, Daniel and Jaden, and is now a grandmother of four.

She said: “There are ups and downs in care, but we have so many moments of joy at Tŷ Porth that I can never imagine myself doing anything else.

“I love nursing and working in a care home is the best job in the world for me.”

She was among hundreds of care workers across Wales nominated by their colleagues and employers to receive recognition at the Wales Care Awards 2025 organised by Care Forum Wales.

Following a raft of interviews before a judging panel the original entries were whittled down to a shortlist of finalists, in 20 categories.

Julie said: “Nursing is in my blood, my mother was a nurse, as was her sister, so many of my aunts and lots of my cousins. It’s what we’ve always done in our family. It’s just instinctive and I knew from an early age that it was what I was destined to do too.”

She said her compassion was enhanced by the recent loss of her own father, Jack Inch: “It made me appreciate even more the complexities of loss and how everyone’s circumstance and experience of grief is always different to another’s. I make an effort to respect that.”

She was presented with her bronze at a red-carpet awards ceremony and dinner, sponsored by Meddyg Care, at Holland House Hotel, Cardiff.

Chair of Care Forum Wales, Mario Kreft MBE, said the 2025 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 came 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 Awards 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.”