On Thursday 1 October, the Heritage Homecare team swapped uniforms and rosters for a night out at Killashee Hotel in Naas. The occasion was the Home and Community Care Ireland (HCCI) Annual Conference and Home Care Awards, and we had two good reasons to celebrate.
From 44 carers and teams shortlisted nationally across nine categories, two were ours:
- Isabelle Melgaço, finalist for Manager of the Year
- Dee Odubayo, finalist for Unsung Hero
Getting to a national final means being recognised by your colleagues first and then standing out against the best in the country. Isabelle and Dee did both, and the whole team was proud of them.
This year’s conference ran under the theme “A New Deal for Carers”. HCCI CEO Joseph Musgrave was clear that recognition on the night has to be matched by change in the sector. “The awards celebrate excellence in care, but they also highlight the urgent need to strengthen the home care system,” he said. He called for greater investment and a clear workforce strategy, noting that “too many carers are being asked to do more with insufficient resources.”
He has made the same case before. Writing in the Irish Examiner earlier this year, he described home care as “essential, skilled, and chronically undervalued”. HCCI is now pushing for mileage support for carers, more predictable income, fairer employment permit rules and a national carer register. All of it matters to the people who keep our clients safe and well at home across South Dublin.
Once the awards were handed out, the Heritage team made sure the night was properly celebrated, with a few brave souls leading the charge onto the dancefloor.
Isabelle, Dee, take a bow. Heritage is proud of you both.
