The nominations deadline for the National Care Awards 2024 has been extended.

The event will take place alongside the London edition of the Care Managers Show at the ExCeL’s Platinum Suite on 29 November.

Originally slated to close on 12 July, nominations will now run until Friday, 16 August, with no extensions after that date, so make sure to fill out the form as soon as possible.

To nominate, follow the link here.

The awards includes categories for providers, suppliers, carers and individual homes, as well as home care and retirement living companies.

Read the full list of categories below:

Carer of the Year

This award recognises the vital role of the care assistant in providing quality care. Evidence of dedication, kindness, sensitive handling of matters of importance to residents, and career progress through training will all be taken into account.

Care Registered Nurse of the Year, sponsored by Care UK

This award will be made to a registered nurse who has made long term care their area of professional specialisation. In addition to maintaining training and demonstrating outstanding clinical and managerial qualities, the winner will have demonstrated a high level of dedication to, and advocacy for, the people they support.

Care Home Manager of the Year, sponsored by We Care Group

This award will be made to an exceptional care home manager. They will be expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise in managing the services of the home to the benefit of residents, staff and their local community.

Dementia Care Manager of the Year, sponsored by Aria Care

This award will be made to an outstanding manager (or deputy) of a care service where more than 50% of the clients live with dementia. The manager will be expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise in managing the service to the benefit of residents with dementia as well as staff.

Care Operations/Area Manager of the Year

The winner of this award will have demonstrated exceptional vision, leadership and be at the forefront of new management techniques. They will have inspired their colleagues to provide exceptional care throughout the homes for which they are responsible.

Care Activities Co-ordinator/Facilitator of the Year, sponsored by TLC Care

This award will be made to a person within a care home or day care service who has made an exceptional contribution to the quality of life, health and happiness of all the people they support through the activities they provide.

Care Housekeeper of the Year, sponsored by P&G Professional

Running the housekeeping services of a care home is vital for the well-being of residents and staff. This award will be made to an outstanding housekeeper who can demonstrate the passion and commitment needed to make a real difference.

Care Chef of the Year, sponsored by Bidfood

This award will be made to a chef in a long-term care setting who shows exceptional ability in providing well-balanced, nutritious and delicious food.

Care Newcomer of the Year

This award will be made to a person working in care, who is new to the sector over the past 24 months, and who is already delivering the very best standard of care. The judges will be looking for an individual who excels in their personal and team roles, and exhibits enthusiasm, professionalism, confidence and a shining commitment to their on-going career development.

Care Home of the Year, sponsored by Ontex

This award will be made to a care home with 15 or more residents which can demonstrate exceptional quality care across all the services it offers.

The Dignity & Respect Care Home of the Year

This award will be made to an exceptional care home which can convincingly demonstrate that it has put dignity and respect for its residents and staff at the very heart of all it does, and that this emphasis has resulted in tangible benefits for residents, relatives and staff alike.

The Sara Berrio Care Champion Award

This award will go to an exceptional person, whether they are a member of staff, a relative, resident or a volunteer who has gone above and beyond and made a real difference. Charitable achievements or making life better for residents and relatives, or simply someone who has done great things but may not have had the recognition they deserve are what the judges will be looking for.

Care Leadership of the Year, sponsored by Domus Recruitment

This award will be made to an outstanding individual, in any care setting, small or large, whose leadership has resulted in an exceptional outcome for clients, team members and the organisation they work for.

Care Team of the Year, sponsored by Impact Futures

This award will be made to a staff team who have developed and maintained an outstanding standard of care and team ethos within any care setting.

Care Home Group (Small), sponsored by Moonrise

This award will go to an outstanding care group with between two and seven care homes which is able to evidence exceptional client care combined with excellent staff development and impressive financial results.

Care Home Group (Medium), sponsored by Virgin Money

This award will go to an outstanding care group with between eight and forty care homes which is able to evidence exceptional client care combined with excellent staff development and impressive financial results.

Care Home Group (Large), sponsored by Ontex

This award will go to an outstanding care group with forty or more care homes which is able to evidence exceptional client care combined with excellent staff development and impressive financial results.

Lifetime Achievement in Care

This Award will be announced on the night and cannot be voted for. This award will be made to an exceptional person who has committed a significant portion of their life to working in a care home, or in social care, in the community or in sheltered housing, and who has made a substantial difference to the quality of life of the people they have worked with as well as staff.

Care Personality of the Year, sponsored by Care Shop

An independent panel will select five finalists who they feel have made a big contribution to the care home sector within the past 12 months. The people chosen will be contacted before the awards ceremony and notified of the finalist position. This award does not require an entry from individuals, however if you would like to nominate someone for the panel to consider please do so along with 500 words to support your nomination.

Deputy Manager of the Year, sponsored by Countrywide Healthcare

This award will be made to an exceptional care home deputy manager. They will be expected to demonstrate a high level of expertise in managing the services of the home to the benefit of residents, staff and their local community.

Training & Development of the Year

We are looking to acknowledge and reward exceptional commitment to training and developing staff. The award could go to an outstanding care home/group or individual who is making an exceptional contribution to enhancing training within their care home(s).

Supplier of the Year

This award is open to all suppliers who have made an outstanding contribution to the care industry in the past 12 months, going above and beyond for their customers and/or innovating to take their offering to the next level.

Tech Innovation of the Year, sponsored by Sanctuary Care

This award recognises innovative technology which has played a key role in supporting care home operational performance and the delivery of care.

Domiciliary Carer of the Year 

This award recognises the vital role of the home carer in providing quality care. Evidence of dedication, kindness, sensitive handling of matters of importance to service users and career progress through training will all be taken into account.

Domiciliary Care Provider of the Year

This award will be made to a domiciliary care provider which can demonstrate exceptional quality care across all the services it offers.

Specialist Carer of the Year

This award recognises the vital role of the carer in providing quality care in specialist care, including learning disabilities and autism, brain injury and stroke, Huntington’s disease, mental health, neuro disability, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injury. Evidence of dedication, kindness, sensitive handling of matters of importance to residents, and career progress through training will all be taken into account.

Specialist Care Provider the Year

This award will be made to a care provider which can demonstrate exceptional quality care across specialist care, including learning disabilities and autism, brain injury and stroke, Huntington’s disease, mental health, neuro disability, Parkinson’s disease and spinal injury.

Best Dining Experience, sponsored by Autumna

Choice Dining is the first food accreditation for the care sector, giving care-seekers the ability to compare the dining experience of care settings. Caring Times has partnered with Autumna (the largest directory of UK care providers, which collects the Choice Dining data) to create a data driven dining experience award for the care sector.

To enter yourself, a colleague or a company in the National Care Awards 2024, please fill out the nomination form.