A team leader in social care has been nominated for a national award after retiring from a 39-year career.

Jayne Owen, 65, of Brymbo, started her career as a cook in a residential home and worked her way up to a manager delivering training to others.

She retired earlier this year but worked for the authority's Workforce Development Team.

She has now been nominated for the Commitment to Training and Workforce Development Award at the 2024 Wales Care Awards.

The awards are in association with Care Forum Wales, a not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of the most important issues of our time – how to provide better quality care for those who need it most.

Jayne started her career as a cook in a residential home and worked her way up to becoming a managerJayne started her career as a cook in a residential home and worked her way up to becoming a manager (Image: Mandy Jones)

The ceremony will take place on Friday, October 18, at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff.

Jayne's former colleagues say she stood out for the way she treated people with a "kind and caring heart" and "mounds of patience".

In 2007, she was appointed team leader of the qualification centre where she nurtured and mentored staff, imparting her vast knowledge and skills to others to benefit the social care sector.

Jayne's dedication saw her offer her unrelenting support to others to help them confidently and competently carry out their roles.

Assessor Tracey Evans, who nominated her, said: "Jayne is often referred to as the role model we all aspire to be.

"She is a compassionate and empathetic leader who really understands the importance and benefits that can be gained from respecting others' views and opinions and the positive contribution that others bring to a team.

"She treats everyone with the utmost respect and dignity and has the skills to instil confidence and empower her team to utilise their skills and also to embrace opportunities to help them to develop and grow."

About being shortlisted, Jayne said: "It was a lovely surprise to hear I'd been nominated, it came as a complete shock but it's so nice to be recognised.

"It's the icing on the cake after 39 years.

"When you're doing the job day-to-day, you don't realise the impact you're having but when you see people putting their learning into practice, it's so nice having played a part in their development.

"But I couldn't have done it without such an amazing team by my side, with them, you can't fail to be successful."