Local carer crowned best in the country

A local care company is celebrating after one of its carers picked up a prestigious national award.

Choice Care employee Mini Patel scooped the award for Home Care Carer of the Year at the finals of the Great British Care Awards 2017 at the ICC in Birmingham recently.

Mini and his firm – which is based at the Blackburn with Darwen Council-run Blackburn Enterprise Centre – had already won regional finals in November last year but faced even greater competition this time round from both large national and smaller care companies from across the country.

However the roof was raised on the night when Mini’s name was announced; the newly crowned Home Carer of the Year receiving his award from actor and musician Martin Kemp.

Mini said:

"As the first few awards were announced I got really nervous and didn’t think I would win but when my name was read out our table erupted with cheers and I couldn’t believe I had won. I just couldn’t believe it."

Choice Care MD, Andrew Key, said:

"We are all so very proud of what Mini has achieved now and over the last 13 years and I know that all his colleagues and clients were right behind him supporting him and willing him on to win."

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

"We are so very happy for Mini and everyone at Choice Care, who we’re proud to have operating out of the Blackburn Enterprise Centre. This is a fantastic story and real team effort and I hope it inspires others to enter the caring profession and maybe someday even follow in Mini’s footsteps."