LONDON, June 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading care home operator Carebase has received national recognition as an outstanding employer at the prestigious Great British Care Home Awards, which are supported by the Department for Health.

The Awards, now in their fifth year, were held in the distinguished surroundings of London's Guildhall and were hosted by Fiona Phillips, the TV presenter who has done so much to highlight the plight of people living with dementia.

A delighted Carebase team, taking part in the awards for the first time, beat tough opposition to pick up the Care Employer Award, which acknowledges an employer's commitment to care and quality service. In presenting the award to Carebase, the competition's judges concluded that:

Carebase stood out for their unique culture clearly running throughout the company enabling all employees to show their compassion and love for their residents, jobs and each other.

Carebase was nominated by Carebase employees due to the huge support and commitment consistently shown to both staff and residents. Carebase's unique 'Butterfly Training', in particular has been highly successful, impacting beneficially on lives of residents and empowering staff to deliver high quality care. The company has also recently introduced its internal annual 'Heart of Gold' Awards to celebrate and reward staff who go the extra mile.

On receiving the award, Carebase Managing Director Nicola Coveney said:

We are absolutely delighted to win the Care Employer Award. Carebase is constantly striving to find new ways to improve the service it provides and is willing to invest heavily to achieve this goal.

This Award is dedicated to all the wonderful Carebase staff who work tirelessly to care for the residents. We look forward to working hard to provide the best care possible, building more care homes and making the lives of those living with dementia better.

The Great British Care Home Awards are all inclusive, bringing together the statutory, independent and voluntary sectors, as well as unpaid carers. The awards this year raised over GBP5,000 for two charities - The Maggie's Centre, which supports people who lives have been impacted upon by cancer, and the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund, which supports current, former and retired care professionals.

Notes to Editors:

1. Pictures from the awards ceremony are available.

2. For more information on The Great British Care Awards please visit: http://www.care-awards.co.uk

3. Carebase is an independent group of private care homes, providing over 550 beds in 9 homes across South East England and East Anglia, encompassing top quality nursing, dementia and residential care.

4. Carebase purchased its first care home in 1990, since that time has placed values of courtesy and service to residents, relatives, staff and suppliers at the centre of everything it does.

5. Carebase provides environments that residents, their families, staff and communities can be proud of.

6. Carebase wants to make a difference to the lives it touches through the delivery of high quality health care and a deep sense of compassion.

7. For further information on The Maggies Centre, please visit: http://www.maggiescentres.org

8. For further information on the Care Professionals Benevolent Fund, please visit: http://www.cpbenevolentfund.org.uk/

SOURCE: Carebase

CONTACT: For further information and more pictures please contact JonathanWare at the Carebase Press Office on: +44(0)7590477941.