Celebrating our High Achieving Members
Right at Home Harrogate Retains Place Among Top 20 Home Care Providers for Second Consecutive Year
Right at Home Harrogate is proud to announce that it has once again been recognised as one of the Top 20 Home Care Providers in Yorkshire & The Humber for 2026, marking the second consecutive year the organisation has received this prestigious accolade.
The award reflects the exceptional dedication, compassion and professionalism of the entire care team, whose commitment to delivering outstanding person-centred care continues to make a positive difference to the lives of clients and their families every day.
Achieving a place in the Top 20 for a second year running is a significant milestone for Right at Home Harrogate. The company is particularly proud to be the only home care provider across Harrogate and the surrounding areas to have secured this recognition in consecutive years, demonstrating its consistent commitment to delivering high-quality care and support within the local community.
Speaking about the achievement, the team expressed their gratitude to both staff and clients for their contribution to the award.
"This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication and kindness shown by our care team every day. Their passion for supporting people to live independently and comfortably in their own homes is at the heart of everything we do. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved." – Veronica Manolache – Managing Director
The organisation also extended its sincere thanks to clients and their families for taking the time to share feedback and reviews.
"We are extremely grateful to our clients and their loved ones for their trust and support. Their feedback is invaluable and plays a vital role in helping us continually improve our services and achieve recognition such as this." - Veronica Manolache – Managing Director
As Right at Home Harrogate celebrates this success, the team remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and continuously enhancing the support provided to individuals and families throughout Harrogate and the surrounding areas.
Hales Group Celebrates Outstanding Colleagues at Annual Awards
On Thursday, 4th June, colleagues from across Hales Group came together to celebrate excellence, dedication and achievement at the annual Hales Group Awards in Peterborough.
The event recognised individuals and teams who have made an exceptional contribution to the organisation, its customers and communities over the past year, with awards presented across central services, recruitment and homecare divisions.
It celebrated outstanding performance, leadership, innovation and commitment to Hales Group’s values. From frontline care to support teams behind the scenes, the Hales Group Awards recognise the positive impact Hales colleagues make every day.
Commenting on her award, Hales Homecare Sheffield Registered Manager Shelly Beech said:
“Winning the Leader of the Year Award is a huge honour and a reflection of the hard work and dedication of my team. It recognises the positive impact we make every day for the people we support and their families. I’m extremely proud and motivated to continue striving for high standards in care and supporting my team to grow.”
Francesca Barnes, Head of Quality and Workforce Development, shared:
“Winning Team of the Year means more than I can fully put into words. For me, it created a deep sense of pride, the kind that sits right at your core. It felt like a moment where all the hard work, the long days, and even the tough moments suddenly made complete sense.”
The Team of the Year award recognised Hales Homecare’s Central Quality Team’s role in raising standards of governance across the business, including achieving 100% Good Inspection outcomes across its regulated services over the last 12 months.
Fran added; “For my team, it was exactly the same. They were beaming. We couldn’t stop smiling or talking about it. It felt like a shared achievement that truly reflected who they are: supportive, committed, and united. This award belongs to them because they show up for each other, for me, and for managers across the organisation always ready to help, step in, and support wherever they’re needed.”
2026 Hales Group Award Winners
- Frontline Care and Support Worker of the Year – Lacey Lazell, Care Assistant, Essex
- Care Coordinator / Quality Assessor of the Year – Gemma Havelock, Care Coordinator, Ipswich
- Permanent Recruitment Consultant of the Year – Emma Eaglen, Business Manager, Letchworth
- Temporary Recruitment Consultant of the Year – Magdalena Parczewska, Account Manager, Diss
- Leader of the Year – Shelly Beech, Registered Manager, Sheffield
- Person in Supporting Role – Clare Morrison, PA to Directors and Operations Support
- Rising Star – James Cairns, Homecare Regional Recruiter
- Team of the Year – Central Quality Team
- Hales Hero of the Year – Rebecca Bunyan-Terry, Care Manager, Cornell Court Extra Care
Among the winners was Irene Amarante, Digital Media and Marketing Manager, who received the Judges Special Recognition Award in appreciation of her more than 10 years of service and contribution to the business.
Reflecting on receiving the award, Irene shared;
“It was a wonderful reminder of how far I’ve come since joining Hales after university. I am very thankful to Hales and everyone who has supported and challenged me to grow year after year. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and this recognition only motivates me to continue learning, improving, and contributing to the company’s ongoing success.”
Commenting on the event’s success, Nicola Mewse, Group Managing Director, shared:
“The Hales Group Awards are more than just recognition. They highlight the talent, dedication, and performance that drive our growth in both Homecare services and the Hales Jobs recruitment division.
Our teams in all parts of the organisation provide excellent care and support within communities, connect talent to opportunities, help UK businesses with workforce solutions, and contribute to sustainable growth in challenging markets.
Those recognised this year represent the best of our organisation, demonstrating the collective effort of colleagues throughout the business who work every day to make a difference.
As we invest, grow, and adapt, it’s the blend of people, purpose, and performance that will lead our next phase of progress. Thank you to everyone in Team Hales—this success is yours.”
Radfield Home Care Leicester East, Groby & Oadby rated Outstanding
A Leicester-based home care provider has been rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the city’s first private domiciliary care specialist to achieve the rating. In the report, inspectors urged other providers to look to the service as an example of best practice.
Greg Rielly, CQC deputy director of adult social care in the East Midlands, praised Radfield Home Care Leicester East, Groby & Oadby for its exemplary support in delivering tailored care for local people and helping them stay connected to their communities.
Mr Rielly commented: “During our inspection, we found a service dedicated to recognising people’s individual needs and tailoring care accordingly. This compassionate and considered approach helped staff build people’s independence and resulted in positive outcomes.”
The report praises the emotional support provided by staff, citing examples such as enabling a client to visit the grave of their late husband for the first time in years, to the team purchasing a memorial stone for a client’s beloved pet.
Speaking of the services, Mr Colin Linch, 92, of Thurmaston said: "The service that Radfield Home Care provides has been genuinely life-changing. The care and support I receive help me maintain my independence and overall wellbeing. Having regular companionship and meaningful interaction has made a real positive difference to my daily life."
Carol Smith, whose mother, Mrs Rosemary Smith, 90, of Queniborough is a Radfield Home Care client, added: "The carers have been absolutely wonderful. They always go above and beyond to make sure everything is taken care of quickly and thoughtfully. They have met every need we could have hoped for, and we truly cannot thank them enough for all their care, kindness, and support."
This is the second Outstanding rating for owner Sona Bharkhada, who also operates the award-winning Radfield Home Care Stamford, Peterborough & Rutland, part of the Radfield Home Care network that was named the Most Outstanding Home Care Group at the 2026 Home Care Awards.
Mrs Bharkhada said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive an Outstanding rating from the CQC, especially following our very first inspection. This achievement reflects the dedication, compassion and professionalism of our entire team.
"Our care professionals strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the people we support.
"We are incredibly proud that the CQC recognised both the quality of our care and the positive culture we have created for our clients and our team.”
Radfield’s Outstanding rating coincides with Leicestershire County Council’s launch of the new Draft Leicestershire Carers Strategy 2026-2030. The strategy aims to formalise support for unpaid family carers and is in the consultation phase. Carers are encouraged to participate to ensure the very best care is available to the people who need it most.
Radfield Home Care Loughborough, Charnwood & Melton Mowbray rated Outstanding
A Loughborough home care team has achieved an Outstanding rating following its first inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the only provider in the town to have achieved the standard. The organisation, run by Akash Raja, currently cares for over 45 clients across Loughborough, Charnwood and Melton Mowbray.
Greg Rielly, CQC’s deputy director of adult social care in the East Midlands, praised Radfield Home Care Loughborough, Charnwood & Melton Mowbray. Speaking about the report, he said: “People using the service were delighted with their care and support and spoke highly of the relationships they had built with staff.”
The report highlights the difference that Radfield Home Care is making with quality care in people’s own homes.
Jenny Abram, 71, has been receiving support from the organisation for over 3 years now. Speaking on the service, they said: “Each day, I look forward to the visits from my Radfield carers. They care deeply about my well-being, and their support has been a huge relief for my family and me.”
The CQC report found that people felt listened to, with great communication from the office team and reliable, unhurried visits from a well-trained team.
Commenting on the report, Mr Raja, said: “To be recognised as Outstanding on our first inspection is a huge achievement for our team - I couldn’t be more proud of them. What matters most is how we make people feel. Hearing that our care makes a real difference to someone’s day, or helps them feel like themselves again, is just so heart-warming.”
The Outstanding rating places the service among the highest-performing home care providers in the country, with only 3% of home care agencies in England rated outstanding and the only one in Loughborough. Along with the Outstanding local service from the Loughborough office, Radfield Home Care was named the Most Outstanding National Home Care Group at the 2026 Home Care Awards, recognising the best quality care in the UK.
