A former nurse who retired last year has received a “golden handshake” in recognition of her outstanding work in the care sector.

Carol Dight, who spent the last nine years working for HC-One Wales, which owns 14 residential and nursing homes across South Wales, was among the chief recipients at this year’s Wales Care Awards ceremony, organised by Care Forum Wales to highlight exceptional work in the sector.

The ceremony, sponsored by Meddyg Care, took place at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, and Carol, who now lives in Wheddon Cross, Minehead, was a double winner.

Not only did she win gold in the category for Leadership and Management in Small Group or Supported Living, sponsored by My Choice Healthcare, but she also received the Spiirit of Care Award sponsored by Dormy Care Communities.

Carol joined HC-One Wales in 2016 after working in various hospitals, ending her NHS career as Executive Director of Nursing and Governance for the Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. She was HC-One Wales’s Responsible Individual before becoming the company’s area director, then Regional Director for Wales.

She was nominated for the Care Award by the company’s Commissioned Services Manager Emma Baker, who said her experience and expertise had proved invaluable to HC-One Wales.

She described Carol as “a dedicated leader and mentor for the HC-One Wales team, overseeing residential, nursing and dementia care across 14 care homes”.

Carol, 61, led the development of the team office and training facility at Quarry Hall, St Mellons, and was also actively involved in the Wales Responsible Individual Community which shares examples of best practice.

According to Emma, Carol’s “compassionate and creative leadership” had helped to ensure that service users “live their best lives”.

When nominated earlier this year Carol, who had attended previous Care Award ceremonies in support of colleagues, said she found it “very humbling”  and she was taken aback to received two of this year’s principal awards.

“It was a huge surprise, especially to receive the Spirit of Care Awards,” she said.

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 underline 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 occurred 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 well-being and mental health,” said Mr Kreft. “He is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on – not only through his contribution to public life as Presiding Officer but also through the positive impact he had on so many communities.”