AN Alcester care home worker has scooped a national award for her dedication to looking after others.

Aggie Szalinsk Dutkowiak who works at Cherry Trees Care Home on Stratford Road beat off competition from around the country to win the National Lifetime Achievement of the Year title at the Barchester Care Awards 2021.

The awards celebrate staff who go the extra mile to care for the 12,000 residents living in Barchester’s 248 care homes and private hospitals across the country.

Categories ranged from ‘Registered Nurse of the Year’ and ‘Carer of the Year’ to ‘Dementia Care Champion’ and ‘Activities Coordinator of the Year’.

Redditch Advertiser: Aggie receiving her award at the Barchester Care Awards 2021. Aggie receiving her award at the Barchester Care Awards 2021.

More than 2,900 nominations were received from homes and hospitals across the UK, with Aggie beating hundreds of other nominees to the coveted title.

Receiving her award, Aggie said: "I want to thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for all your kind words and ongoing support. You are all truly amazing, Cherry Trees Team is very important to me, you are my family and I couldn’t do it without you.

"I’m very grateful for the recognition and honoured to achieve such an important award."

Aggie's win was announced at a national award ceremony on October 13 which celebrated the achievements of Barchester’s staff members who have all worked tirelessly throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cherry Trees manager Debbie Osborne said: “This is an amazing achievement and the whole home is so proud of her and her hard work and dedication. She is such an important member of the team and Cherry Trees wouldn’t be the same without her.”