A care home in Kent has been shortlisted for a total of seven categories at the National Care Awards.

On the evening of Friday, October 10 The Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling, Cllr Sasha Luck and Samantha Riley, director of Insight, NHS England, joined Hale Place Care Solutions staff and relatives to celebrate the recognition Hale Place has received throughout 2014.

Employees from the company, based in East Peckham, have been shortlisted for five care awards at the Great British Care Awards and two more at the nationals.

The company will be taking 25 staff to the presentation evenings in November, where the winners will be announced.

Having been shortlisted for twelve awards this year, Hale Place has already won three of them, including the valued ‘Quality of Care’ and ‘Person Centred Care’.

Director, Kevin Hewlett said: “It is only in partnership with you that we can keep improving. You are, and have been, integral to shaping quality care at Hale Place and the Awards we have won is as much a reflection of your caring attitude, as it is our skills and abilities to deliver to your expectations.

"A relative recently summed up what makes us stand out from other providers when she said, mum was welcomed in as if she was a family member of Hale Place, she has been loved, cherished and adored, and we did not have a right to expect that.”

The Mayor concurred: “This feels like a family.”

Samantha Riley said: “It was a great privilege to be one of the judges, awarding Hale Place, the Quality of Care Award for 2014.

"Kevin is a fantastic leader and has created an incredibly motivated team. I was very struck by the commitment, professionalism and care demonstrated by all of the staff working at Hale Place”