A HEALTHCARE assistant from a Warrington care home has been recognised for her hard work after more than 30 years in the sector.

Cheryl Whitehouse has been awarded Hero of the Month for July at L&M Healthcare’s Whittle Hall in Great Sankey.

"I am absolutely over the moon - I’ve never had anything like this before and I can’t wait to go home and tell all my family," she said.

"I love my job and I love caring."

Before joining Whittle Hall, Cheryl worked in the community and at Warrington Hospital for 19 years in orthopaedics.

This is the first time that she has been recognised for her work.

"The way I look at it, our residents are somebody’s mum, or somebody’s dad and I just treat them as I would want my mum and dad to be treated," Cheryl explained.

"With lockdown, we have been needed more than ever, we have become our residents' family, we’ve all done everything possible to make life here as good as it can be under the circumstances.

"The staff here are all just wonderful, we all work as a team and the atmosphere is fantastic.

"It’s a well-run home and Deborah is a brilliant manager and she certainly knows how to make me cry - I’ve never stopped crying since I got this award!"

As well as a certificate and a gift from the home manager, Cheryl also won £100 worth of vouchers from the head office.

The Hero of the Month awards were introduced by L&M Healthcare in recognition of those who have been working hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jeanne Davies, managing director, added: "Staff like Cheryl demonstrate the kind of loving care that we pride ourselves on.

"Our residents are someone’s mum or dad.

"When we opened our first home, that was my vision for the standard of care we would deliver.

"Seven homes later, I still benchmark everything we do against that standard and I constantly ask myself, 'would I put my mum in that sitting room or bedroom, would I serve her that dinner, would I want her having this kind of activity or the other?'

"We are so proud of all our staff.

"They have worked tremendously well under very difficult circumstances recently, but amongst them, there are people like Cheryl who really shine and this award is thoroughly deserved.

"I am so pleased that L&M Healthcare have been the organisation that has finally recognised her worth and her wonderful caring nature."