Laxmi Pun, senior cook at Homefield House care home in Basingstoke, was presented with the award for ‘Star Baker’ – sponsored by Brakes Food - at Shaw healthcare’s annual Shaw Star Awards.

The panel of judges selected five finalists – all of whom were nominated by their peers - who excel in catering, presentation and meeting the needs of each individual to create an enjoyable dining experience.

Those shortlisted were asked to make a gluten-free cake and either a sugar-free cake or a selection of sugar-free sweets, which were then judged by a panel on the evening. The judges felt that both bakes by Laxmi were exceptionally well-presented and the taste did not disappoint. While the standard of all entries was very high, they felt Laxmi’s had that something extra special.

Louise Webster, Laxmi’s manager, said: “Laxmi has risen to the challenge of running the kitchen on her own at Homefield House and has improved communication with those receiving the service.  She is passionate about great meals and tailors her service to the individual and focuses very much on person-centred care.”

Laxmi said: “I am really motivated by making food that people enjoy and encourage them to try new foods. Being in a care setting, I’ve also developed a niche for understanding people’s conditions and how it affects their diet. I also love to travel and try to incorporate all of the different flavours into my cooking.”

Laxmi was recognised alongside other award winners as more than 200 people gathered at The Forest of Arden Hotel in Birmingham for Shaw healthcare’s annual awards ceremony, which aims to celebrate the achievements of outstanding staff members from amongst the 4,000 plus care workers across Shaw’s 80 UK facilities.
 
Jeremy Nixey, chief executive of Shaw healthcare, said: “The Shaw Star Awards has become such an important fixture in the annual calendar. We are always delighted to be able to recognise the hard work of so many staff members in various roles and from across the Shaw healthcare family.
 
“A lot has changed in the care industry since we launched the Shaw Star Awards in 2008, but what remains is a dedicated and compassionate workforce that strives to improve the lives of each and every one of our service users.
 
“Picking winners is never easy and just goes to show the quality of staff in our ranks. The ceremony is a great opportunity to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of our staff and recognise those who have gone above and beyond with these award wins.”
 
Star baker Laxmi

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