On 12th February, Highgate Care brought our teams together from across all of our homes for the Highgate Care Awards 2026. Held at the Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds, the evening was a celebration of the compassion, dedication, and outstanding contributions demonstrated every day within our homes and the communities we serve.
It recognised the individuals and teams who go above and beyond, sharing inspiring stories and celebrating the incredible impact of care delivered with heart. The event also marked a special milestone, as Highgate Care celebrated its third birthday, reflecting on the journey so far and the strong, supportive community we continue to build.
Celebrating Excellence Across Highgate Care
The awards were presented by our Managing Director, Joanne Fogg, who spoke about Highgate Care’s journey over the past three years. From its beginnings to becoming a growing and thriving care group, Joanne highlighted the unwavering commitment of colleagues across all services.
She was proudly supported throughout the evening by the group’s two Regional Directors, who joined her in recognising the exceptional contributions made by individuals and teams across the organisation.
In total, 14 awards were presented, each one shining a light on excellence in care, leadership, teamwork and compassion.
A Night of Celebration and Fun
For a bit of added entertainment to the evening, Tobias Parry from our recruitment team took on the role of Quiz Master, hosting an interactive quiz that brought plenty of laughter and friendly competition. Guests also enjoyed a raffle, ensuring that everyone had the chance to take home a prize and be part of the celebrations.
Honouring Outstanding Individuals and Teams
One of the evening’s main highlights saw Rastrick Hall & Grange recognised as Care Home of the Year in acknowledgement of its strong commitment and sustained dedication to continuous improvement.
Manager of the Year was presented to Marie Binder, Manager at Highfield Care Centre, celebrating her exceptional leadership and commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care.
The Heart of Highgate Award, a deeply meaningful accolade recognising someone who truly embodies the organisation’s values, was awarded to Abigail Devall, Registered Manager at Cranswick Lodge.
A particularly moving moment of the evening came with the presentation of the Inspirational Leader Award. Joanne Fogg herself was honoured with this special recognition. The award was presented by Andrew Harrison-Ireland, Care Home Manager at Alpine Lodge Care Home, alongside Highgate Care Recruitment Manager Martine Woodhouse.
Congratulations to all our finalists:
Care Home of the Year:
The Lawns, Darlington (Nominated)
The Limes, Driffield (Nominated)
Rastrick Hall & Lodge, Brighouse (WINNER)
Home Manager of the Year:
Sharon Daglish at The Lawns, Darlington (Nominated)
Mary Moran at Oaktree Hall & Lodge, Bridlington (Nominated)
Marie Binder at Highfield Care Centre, Allerton Bywater (WINNER)
Abigail Devall at Cranswick Lodge, Hutton Cranswick (Nominated)
Leader of the Year:
Renata Betlaj (Deputy Manager) at The Limes, Driffield (Nominated)
Amy Everington (Residential Deputy Manager) at Foresters Lodge, Bridlington (WINNER)
Amanda Powell, Highgate Home Care (Nominated)
Alison Sparrow (Team Leader) at Clipstone Hall & Lodge, Mansfield (Nominated)
Registered Nurse of the Year:
Debbie Creaser from Foresters Lodge, Bridlington (Nominated)
Nancy Garcia from Maple Lodge, Catterick (WINNER)
Andreea Gheorghies at Foresters, Bridlington (Nominated)
Born to Care:
Kelly Faulkner (Senior Care Assistant) at Oaktree Hall & Lodge, Bridlington (WINNER)
Carly Salisbury (Care Assistant) at Foresters Lodge, Bridlington (Nominated)
Lana Renshaw (Deputy Manager) at Maple Court, Scarborough (Nominated)
Catering Team of the Year:
Figham House, Beverley (Nominated)
The Limes, Driffield (Nominated)
Maple Court, Scarborough (WINNER)
Sparkle & Shine Award Domestic Team):
Clipstone Hall & Lodge, Mansfield (Nominated)
The Grange, Darlington (WINNER)
Maple Lodge, Catterick (Nominated)
Highgate Home Care Person of the Year:
Kirsty Steadman (Nominated)
Olivia Moncrief (WINNER)
Michelle Campbell (Nominated)
Resident Well-Being Award:
Megan Kettle (Activities Lead) at Springfield Manor, Stoke-on-Trent (WINNER)
Nikkita Danylew (Senior Care Assistant) at The Lawns, Darlington (Nominated)
Ellie Jennison (Activities Lead) at The Limes, Driffield (Nominated)
New to Care Award:
Callum Wills (Maintenance Person) at Alexandra Court Care Centre, Hull (Nominated)
Emmanual Peprah (Care Assistant) at Maple Court, Scarborough (Nominated)
Kingsley Allez (Care Assistant) at The Grange, Darlington (WINNER)
Making People Smile Award:
Vicky Leech (Deputy Manager) at Rastrick Hall & Grange, Brighouse (Nominated)
Isatou Gai-Boye (Care Assistant) at Clipstone Hall & Lodge, Mansfield (WINNER)
Ben Foster (Deputy Manager) at The Lawns, Darlington (Nominated)
Together We Care Award:
Martine Woodhouse – Recruitment Manager (Nominated)
The Recruitment Team – Martine Woodhouse/Keeley Strangeway & Tobias Parry (WINNER)
Nicola Berry -Regional Manager (Nominated)
Behind the Scenes Award:
IT Team: Shaun/Alex/Ryan (Nominated)
Sharon Vierucci – Directors PA (WINNER)
Juliet Roberts – Payroll Manager (WINNER)
Heart of Highgate Award:
Abigail Devall (Registered Manager) at Cranswick Lodge, Hutton Cranswick (WINNER)
Dolores Pooley – Regional Manager (Nominated)
Bekki Barnett (Registered Manager) at Clipstone Hall & Lodge, Mansfield (Nominated)
