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  • About the Awards
  • Awards Categories
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Awards Categories

The awards represent all areas of social care across the independent and voluntary sectors, including residential care, home care, housing with care, learning disabilities and autism services, children and young people’s services, and suppliers of products and services to the sector.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Employer Award

This award recognises employers who demonstrate outstanding commitment to delivering high-quality care and driving continuous improvement.

Nominees must evidence strong leadership, effective workforce development, and a commitment to learning and innovation. They should demonstrate adaptability to changing social care priorities and a clear focus on person-centred care that upholds dignity and privacy.

Evidence should include client satisfaction, positive outcomes, and meaningful engagement with clients, carers, and relatives. Employers should also show how they foster a positive, caring culture and what makes their service stand out.

Dementia Care Awards

The Dignity in Care Award

This award honours an individual who consistently promotes dignity, respect, and choice while maximising independence.

Nominees should demonstrate a clear understanding of dignity in care and show how they inspire others to uphold rights, autonomy, and inclusion. Evidence should include positive client and colleague feedback, team collaboration, and examples of making a tangible difference, even in challenging circumstances.

Dementia Care Awards

The Home Care Coordinator Award

This award recognises a Home Care Coordinator who effectively manages care teams while keeping clients at the heart of the service.

Nominees should demonstrate strong leadership, efficient and cost-effective coordination, staff support and training, and an understanding of lone working. Evidence of regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and effective use of technology is required.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Newcomer Award

This award recognises an individual who has joined the care sector within the last 12 months, either as a new entrant or after a break of two years or more.

Nominees should demonstrate a clear understanding of their role, strong people skills, and how they have transferred existing skills or life experience into care practice. Empathy, responsiveness, and a commitment to learning are essential.

Dementia Care Awards

The Dementia Carer Award

This award recognises an individual who delivers high-quality, personalised dementia care.

Nominees should demonstrate a strong understanding of dementia, effective communication, support for independence, and responsiveness to individual needs. Evidence of adaptability, passion, and positive outcomes is essential.

Dementia Care Awards

The Frontline Leaders Award

This award recognises supervisors, senior care workers, team leaders, or first-time managers who demonstrate leadership and commitment to improving care delivery.

Nominees should show how they motivate teams, lead by example, and drive positive change through continuous improvement.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Home Worker Award

This award celebrates care home workers who deliver high-quality, person-centred care.

Nominees should demonstrate professionalism, compassion, teamwork, and a commitment to ongoing training while supporting residents’ dignity, independence, and wellbeing.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Team Award

This award recognises a care team that demonstrates strong leadership, shared values, and effective collaboration.

Teams should show clear roles, high morale, commitment to dignity and person-centred care, and a focus on learning and continuous improvement.

Dementia Care Awards

The Housing with Care Award

This award recognises an individual or team delivering outstanding person-centred care within supported housing settings.

Nominees should demonstrate outcome-focused care that promotes independence, inclusion, and community engagement.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Home Cook/Chef Award

This award recognises excellence in food, nutrition, and mealtime experiences within care homes.

Nominees should demonstrate varied and nutritious menus, resident involvement, high hygiene standards, and a commitment to wellbeing, sustainability, and dietary needs.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Home Activity Organiser Award

This award recognises an Activity Organiser who delivers a varied, inclusive, and needs-led programme.

Nominees should demonstrate creativity, resident involvement, and positive impact, with evidence of inspiration, innovation, and engagement.

Dementia Care Awards

THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL CARE AWARD

This special award recognises an individual who has made a lasting and significant contribution to social care.

Nominees should demonstrate long-term dedication, leadership, and positive impact across the sector.

Dementia Care Awards

THE SOCIAL CARE NURSE AWARD

This award recognises an exceptional nurse working in social care.

Nominees should demonstrate compassion, leadership, innovation, and excellence in holistic, person-centred nursing practice.

Dementia Care Awards

The Home Care Worker Award

This award recognises the vital contribution of Home Care Workers in supporting individuals to live independently in their own homes.

Nominees should demonstrate empowering, dignified, and personalised care, working collaboratively with clients and carers. Judges will look for evidence of going above and beyond, commitment to training and development, and responsiveness to individual needs. Open to Personal Assistants, this award celebrates those who consistently deliver exceptional care.

Dementia Care Awards

The Ancillary Worker Award

This award recognises excellence in person-centred ancillary services such as handypersons, cleaners, catering staff, and receptionists.

Nominees should demonstrate pride in their role, a commitment to dignity and respect, and examples of using initiative to go above and beyond. Evidence of positive client feedback and meaningful impact is essential.

Dementia Care Awards

The Palliative Care and End of Life Award

This award recognises an individual who delivers compassionate, professional care to those at the end of life.

Nominees should demonstrate specialist skills and training, a strong focus on dignity and respect, and the ability to support families and loved ones with sensitivity and empathy during a difficult time.

Dementia Care Awards

The Co-Production Award

This award recognises initiatives that demonstrate meaningful collaboration between people who use services, carers, and professionals.

It celebrates inclusive, person-centred approaches that lead to improved outcomes, stronger relationships, and shared decision-making.

Please note: this award will be judged solely on written submissions.

Dementia Care Awards

The Home Care Registered Manager Award

This award recognises an outstanding Registered Home Care Manager who demonstrates leadership, vision, and excellence in service delivery.

Nominees should evidence a well-led service, commitment to dignity and quality, staff development, and meaningful involvement of clients and families.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Assessor and Care Planner Award

This award recognises excellence in assessment and care planning.

Nominees should demonstrate thorough assessments, personalised care plans, effective teamwork, and the importance of regular reviews and continuity of care.

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Home Registered Manager Award

This award recognises a Care Home Registered Manager who demonstrates exceptional leadership and vision.

Nominees should evidence strong management practices, staff development, resident engagement, and clear improvements in quality and outcomes.

Dementia Care Awards

The Unpaid Carers Award

This award recognises an unpaid carer who has made a significant difference to the life of a vulnerable person or the wider community.

Open to carers of all ages, nominees should demonstrate exceptional dedication and impact within the past 18 months.

Please note: this award will be judged solely on written submissions

Dementia Care Awards

The Care Innovator Award

This award recognises an individual who has developed and implemented an innovative service, system, or product that has positively impacted care delivery.

Nominees should demonstrate creativity, determination, and measurable benefits for service users, staff, or the wider organisation.

Dementia Care Awards

The Three Rs Award: Recruitment, Retention and Recognition

This award recognises innovative approaches to attracting, retaining, and valuing staff.

Nominees should demonstrate how their strategies have improved staff satisfaction, performance, and long-term organisational success.

Dementia Care Awards

The Putting People First and Personalisation Award

This award recognises an individual or team that empowers people to take control of their care through personalised support.

Nominees should demonstrate creativity, person-centred practice, and measurable impact on outcomes and independence.

Dementia Care Awards

The Workforce Development Award

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to training and workforce development.

Nominees should evidence the creation of learning opportunities, staff engagement, successful funding or programme delivery, and a strong culture of continuous professional development.

Dementia Care Awards NOMINATE NOW
Celebrating Excellence in
Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Awards
NOMINATE NOW 8th December 2026
Hilton Belfast
Dementia Care Awards Celebrating excellence
in health & Social Care
NOMINATE 8th December 2026
Hilton Belfast
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