A CARING woman from Llandrindod Wells is in the running for a top award after stepping into the breach to cook for a group of young people with autism.
Karen Saunders will be a shortlisted finalist at the Wales Care Awards in a category for Commitment to Quality in Housekeeping and Hospitality.
The event at Cardiff City Hall on November 17 will be hosted by Wynne Evans, famed for his Go Compare advertisements on TV, who also has a daily show on Radio Wales.
Karen was nominated by Nickki Martin, facility manager at sites run by the Orbis Education and Care Group, which has several centres in South Wales and a programme of expansion. It also has a charity shop staffed by service users at Porth in the Rhondda.
Nickki said: “She’s absolutely fantastic, from the time she started she hit the ground running and fitted in so well. Karen is an amazing person, going above the beyond her duties, there are really no words to describe how good she is. She’s a legend, and so many people speak highly of her.”
Karen had held several responsible posts in the social care sector in England, including as an assessor, when she relocated to Powys. She started at Bronllys, Brecon, in March last year, originally as a housekeeper. But when the home lost its chef she immediately stepped into the breach, and is now seeking professional qualifications.
She cooks daily for about nine young people, mainly boys whose ages range from eight to 20, and for staff – 30 people in all. “Everything is home cooked,” she said proudly. “Also I encourage them to eat salads and plenty of fruit. I love my job. Two previous chefs went and I was asked to step in. From my previous jobs I’m used to menus and ordering food.”
Karen, who has a 27-year-old daughter and is married to a self-employed plumbing and heating engineer, says that since moving to Llandrindod Wells she has taken up birdwatching as a hobby. “I’ve counted 32 species in my own back garden since coming to live here.”
Her reaction to being nominated for an award was: “I’m over the moon to tell you the truth It’s so nice that people appreciate you. I’m overwhelmed – I just thought I was doing my job.”
Some of the young residents have particular problems and Karen reaches out to try and make their lives more fulfilling.
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job, it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor. It’s a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud.”