HC-One’s Development Chef, Chris Bonner has been triumphant in being selected as the winner of ‘The Workforce Development Award’ Category at the North East Region of the Great British Care Awards 2022 which took place on Thursday 10
th November 2022 at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park in Newcastle.
The Great British Care Awards 2022 are a series of regional events throughout the UK, celebrating the achievements of individuals across the care sector. The awards recognise the hard work and kind care shown by individuals to Residents, Relatives and Colleagues, as well as the dedication and passion individuals show every day to ensure the people they support receive the best quality care.
Chris was announced as the winner of ‘The Workforce Development Award’ Category by the judges due to showing incredible enthusiasm and determination in identifying training and development needs of care Colleagues. Chris has established training programmes, searching and gaining funding when needed and has proven that he can enthuse and energise Colleagues to attend and request training to further enhance and develop their skill set and progress in their careers.
Chris who has been in the catering industry spanning different sectors over the past 25 years drives HC-One’s culinary offerings in his role as Development Chef.
After previously working as a Head Chef for five years at Helen McArdle Care, the group was acquired by HC-One. Chris’ skills and talent were quickly noticed and he was promoted to the newly appointed role, Development Chef for HC-One. Every day Chris looks forward to working with Residents and continually improving all aspects of HC-One’s food offer.
Chris inspires Chefs across the group on a daily basis with his inspirational approach to food and understanding of the critical role that food and nutrition plays in the life of our Residents. Chris holds regular training workshops and is always available to assist and provide advice to catering Colleagues working in HC-One homes.
Some of Chris’ notable achievements since joining HC-One include producing a special diets program to provide specific recipes and menus for a variety of complex dietary requirement including cultural and religious, vegan and vegetarian; providing a whole home approach suite of training materials to implement the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation (IDDSI) Initiative to ensure that those with a swallowing difficulty live their best life and creating the HC-One quarterly seasonal menus.
Chris Bonner,
winner of ‘The Workforce Development Award’ category, said:
“I am extremely humbled to have been chosen as the winner of ‘The Workforce Development Award’ category. It’s a huge honour and I look forward to attending the National Finals next year.”
HC-One had three winners in total at the North East Region of the Great British Care Awards 2022 across a variety of award categories, as well as two Colleagues being announced as ‘Highly Commended’ in their respective award categories.
Chris and the other winners of the Regional Great British Care Awards 2022 will now progress to the National Finals of the Great British Care Awards 2023 taking place on Friday 17
th March 2023 at the ICC in Birmingham.
Mark Meacham, Head of Catering and Housekeeping Support Services at HC-One who nominated Chris for the award, remarked:
“I am very proud of Chris for winning The Workforce Development Award at the North East Region of the Great British Care Awards 2022! He is a fantastic Development Chef and an asset to HC-One.
“Being named as the winner of this award acknowledges Chris’ hard work and kindness he shows to his fellow Colleagues. Chris is a mentor and role model to other Colleagues; he achieves amazing outcomes through the work he carries out which ultimately enhances the quality of care of Residents living in our HC-One care homes.”