A former RAF civilian worker who swapped military life for care has won a silver award at the prestigious Wales Care Awards.

Louise Paxford, Assistant Manager and Training Lead at Ysguborwen Care Home in Llwydcoed, near Aberdare, was honoured with silver in the Commitment to Training and Workforce Development category  sponsored by City & Guild at a glittering ceremony in Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel.

The awards, organised by Care Forum Wales and sponsored by Meddyg Care, celebrate the dedication and professionalism of the nation’s care workforce.

Louise, who joined Ysguborwen in 2021, was recognised for her tireless work transforming staff training, mentoring colleagues, and improving dementia and end-of-life care.

The recognition for Louise comes after her tireless efforts to mentor colleagues, improve dementia and end-of-life care, and overhaul staff induction at the home – all while juggling family life, studies and her passion for helping others.

“I don’t do this job for awards – I do it because I care deeply about the residents and want every member of staff to feel confident, supported, and proud,” said Louise.,.

“But it’s lovely when someone notices the effort you put in. This nomination is for the whole team.”

Louise spent three years in the Royal Air Force’s general department as a civilian worker, stationed alongside her husband, Ryan, a serving RAF member.

The experience, she says, shaped her commitment to structure, clear communication, and teamwork.

While based in Cyprus, she also volunteered with a local dog rescue charity – bringing home four rescue dogs, and still advocates for the charity’s work today.

Returning to Wales, Louise started in domiciliary care, quickly rising to team leader before joining Ysguborwen in 2021. Starting as a care assistant, she rapidly progressed to senior roles thanks to her leadership skills and passion for staff development.

She has since achieved Level 3 and 4 qualifications in Health and Social Care and Dementia, is completing a Level 5 Professional Practice award, and recently began a four-year part-time nursing degree – all while raising two sons, Kristian, 15, and Dylan, 12.

“They’re really proud,” Louise said. “We always make time for fun too – they love theme parks!”

Colleagues say Louise has “transformed” Ysguborwen’s culture – particularly in how new staff are trained and supported.

Her manager, Debbie Strong, said: “Louise has transformed the way we induct and train staff, supported countless team members with their qualifications, and helped many through their registration with Social Care Wales. Her confidence, warmth, and dedication are infectious.

“She ensures every new recruit receives tailored training, embedding the home’s ethos of respect, dignity, and person-centred care from day one.

“Louise has also strengthened dementia care skills and is developing refresher training for all staff to reinforce empathy and understanding.

“Her work in improving end-of-life care has been equally significant. In the past, residents’ wishes could be missed due to delays in arranging mental capacity assessments with GPs.

“This became painfully clear when one resident, who wished to remain at the home, was admitted to hospital because the assessment could not be completed in time.

“Louise found a solution – securing specialist training so selected nurses and managers could carry out capacity assessments themselves. This change ensures residents’ wishes are respected without unnecessary delays.

“Louise took a distressing experience and turned it into a catalyst for positive change,” Debbie said.

“Her leadership has made a real difference to the dignity of our residents and given families peace of mind during difficult times.”

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.”