CARE home staff in West Oxfordshire have won awards for the quality of their work.

Mandy Vettraino and Kathy Plato, the manager and deputy manager at the Longlands Care Home, in Pound Lane, Cassington, received a Dignity Every Day award from Age UK Oxfordshire.

And two employees of the Orders of St John Care Trust were recipients of its national chairman’s commendations, given to recognise outstanding achievements and quality of care.

Paul Cann, the chief executive of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “Our awards are about publicising and celebrating the fantastic work that goes on every day that we don’t give credit to and take for granted.

“We hope the success will grow and grow and become a beacon for people to think about and we hope all care will rise to the standards of these champions.”

The awards were presented by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith at a ceremony held in Oxford’s Randolph Hotel.

April Bulman, an administration assistant at Madley Park House, in Madley Way, Witney, and Valerie Hoare, a carer at Spencer Court, in Union Street, Woodstock, were among five Orders of St John staff from Oxfordshire honored at a ceremony at Lincoln Cathedral’s Chapter House.

A spokesman for the trust said Ms Bulman had been given the award for her ceaseless commitment to the home and her constant willingness to give time freely and take on tasks over and above what was expected in her role.

He added that Ms Hoare was devoted to providing the highest quality of care possible and had built a strong relationship, based on trust, with residents at Spencer Court.