AN Ellesmere Port care home worker has been shortlisted for a major award.

Roxanne Morris has been described as the 'backbone' of residential home Rivacre, which is operated by national health and social care charity Making Space.

The 40-year-old has worked at Rivacre for over two decades. She started out as a general assistant, helping out with duties including housekeeping, cleaning, laundry and catering.

With support from her employer, Roxanne passed an NVQ level 3 in health and social care and now also works as a support worker, helping the home's 12 residents live their lives 'as fully and independently as possible'.

Registered manager Dreena Davies nominated Roxanne for a Great British Care Award, saying that she was a prime example of excellence in social care and that she couldn't sing her praises highly enough.

Roxanne will find out whether she has won the north west heat of the national event at a gala dinner event at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on November 9.

If Roxanne takes home the trophy, it won't be the first accolade on the mantelpiece at Rivacre, which has been providing residential care in Ellesmere Port since 1991.

This summer, residential manager Dreena, who lives in Chester, was named housing manager of the year at the national Housing With Care awards. Judges praised her “unwavering mission to elevate Rivacre’s standards.'

Dreena said: "Roxanne has worked at Rivacre since 2002 and I can't praise her highly enough.

"She has offered continuity and quality of care to the people living at Rivacre for over 20 years and really is a vital backbone to the service we offer.

"Roxanne works part time as she has a young family. We are able to offer her the flexibility she needs to have a quality family life - and she offers residents and colleagues the highest level of professionalism and care

"She is amazing with her colleagues as well as the people we support. When I started at Rivacre in 2013, she certainly helped me to settle in.

"I am over the moon that Roxanne is up for this award as all too often, people in roles like hers are overlooked."

Shane Parnell, associate director of operations, Making Space, said: "Roxanne embodies one of our most important values here at Making Space. Our name for it is 'kind hearts'.

"Her 20 years of continuous and exemplary service shows that she truly cares about people. During that time, she has shown compassion, understanding and warmth to other team members and the people we support.

"I wish her every luck in the awards. She would be a very deserving winner."