Former student Billy shortlisted for Wales Care Awards

Former Coleg Llandrillo student Billy Holmes is one of the finalists in this year’s Wales Care Awards.

The 31-year-old has made the final three in the category for Excellence in Leadership and Management in Community-Based Services.

Billy works for MHC (UK) Ltd as registered manager of Glasfryn and Garth, two homes for people with learning disabilities and/or mental health problems.

He started with the company as a support worker back in 2013, after completing his Level 3 Sport (Performance and Excellence) course at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus.

Picture: Mandy Jones

And it was an extra-curricular coaching session at college that kick-started his interest in working in the care sector.

“The course was really good,” said Billy, originally from Denbigh but now living in Rhyl. “But the way it links into my work is, we did a disabled tennis leaders award in the last few months before we left.

“I worked with someone who had a learning disability and I just loved it. To see him smiling and laughing playing tennis, I thought, ‘this is a great feeling’.”

Billy plays as a defender for Denbigh Town Football Club, and a chance encounter with the team’s manager at the time, who worked for MHC, led him to follow his vocation.

After starting as a support worker, Billy has been with the company ever since, working his way up to team leader and deputy manager, before becoming registered manager three years ago.

“I just find that working in care comes naturally,” said Billy. “I just like to help people and I really enjoy it. But it all started from that half-day disabled tennis leadership award, just that one session. I’ve always remembered it, and it was just one of those things they put in as an extra.”

Billy has fond memories of his college lecturers, saying: “I’d like to give a shout out to Rhods (Rhodri Davies) and Tuds (Tudur Morris). They were so supportive of me. I still see them around and they always ask how I’m getting on.”

Billy was nominated for the Excellence in Leadership and Management in Community-Based Services award by fellow registered manager Crystal Pritchard, who said he had been a great support to her in seeking to provide a high standard of care.

Crystal said: “He always puts the residents he supports first, working in a person-centred approach, supporting each individual to live their best lives and supporting them to be empowered and confident.

“He has fantastic relationships with everyone who comes into contact with his work and he is highly thought of by those who know him. He regularly makes sacrifices to provide the best support for residents, for example supporting them on overseas holidays.”

Following an unannounced inspection last year, both Glasfryn and Garth received excellent feedback in terms of well-being, care and support and leadership and management, a tribute to Billy’s hard work and dedication.

Crystal added: “A Care Award would be a fantastic celebration of his achievements, as well as recognising all of the hard work he carries out every day and the positive impact this has on everyone around him.”

Gemma Jennings, the Director of Operations at MHC, said: “I am thrilled that Billy’s dedication, hard work and commitment is being recognised by the awards - an excellent example of our MHC values.”

Some of the improvements introduced by Billy have been adopted not only in MHC’s other homes, but throughout Wales through Social Care Wales Forums.

Billy is now looking forward to the presentation of the awards at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on October 18. The event is sponsored by Ontex Healthcare and will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Jason Mohammad.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “Our aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines on the front line of social care across Wales.

“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation - these are the people who really do have the X Factor.

“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.

“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”

The Wales Care Awards, organised by Care Forum Wales, recognise exceptional work in the care sector.

For more information about the Wales Care Awards, visit walescareawards.co.uk