Trinity Homecare has secured five finalist places at the National Care Awards 2026, recognising colleagues and teams across frontline care, learning and development, quality improvement and leadership.
The recognition reflects the contribution of people working across Trinity Homecare to help clients remain safe, independent and connected to the lives they choose in their own homes.
The winners will be announced at the National Care Awards ceremony on 6 November 2026 at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.
Trinity Homecare’s five National Care Awards finalists
- Katarzyna Nowicka – Domiciliary Carer of the Year
- Nicola Waghorn – Training and Development of the Year
- Rebecca Walton – The Sara Berrio Care Champion Award
- Barbara Baig – Care Personality of the Year
- Trinity Homecare – Care Team of the Year
Katarzyna Nowicka: Domiciliary Carer of the Year finalist
Katarzyna Nowicka, known as Kate, is an experienced live-in carer whose decade-long support for one client demonstrates the power of truly person-centred care. Her work has helped him gain greater choice, safety and independence while continuing to live at home with advanced multiple sclerosis.
Kate has advocated for essential home adaptations, specialist equipment and an appropriately assessed wheelchair. When his live-in care arrangement was at risk, she coordinated assessments and professional evidence to demonstrate why that support remained necessary. She has also helped him reconnect with family, community life and personal interests, from café visits and shopping to a trip inspired by his passion for Second World War history.
Her nomination recognises consistent dedication, professional courage and an ability to see the whole person rather than a list of care needs.
Nicola Waghorn: Training and Development of the Year finalist
Nicola Waghorn, Head of HR and Learning and Development at Trinity Homecare Group, has led the creation of a development pathway that supports colleagues from induction through to recognised qualifications and leadership roles.
Training combines practical induction, shadowing, competency assessment, refresher sessions, online workshops, specialist learning and funded qualifications. During the past year, Trinity delivered 5,400 face-to-face training hours across 1,202 sessions, trained 198 new colleagues and provided refresher training to 580 carers.
The impact is visible in practice. Carers have drawn on recently completed emergency training to perform CPR and respond to choking incidents, while learning in areas such as end-of-life care has strengthened compassionate support at the moments families need it most. Nicola’s finalist place celebrates learning that builds confidence, competence, safer care and long-term careers.
Rebecca Walton: The Sara Berrio Care Champion Award finalist
Rebecca Walton is a Care Manager at Trinity Homecare. She is known for calm leadership, rapid problem-solving and an instinctive willingness to step forward when someone needs help.
When a family returned to Trinity after an older relative’s needs had deteriorated, Rebecca immediately coordinated visiting and live-in care colleagues, arranged an assessment that afternoon and helped put appropriate care in place by the following day. Her approach remained focused on the person behind the urgency: listening carefully, respecting choice and helping the family feel safe during a difficult change.
Rebecca shows the same compassion beyond her formal role. After hearing an elderly neighbour call for help following a fall, she stayed with her, contacted emergency services and offered reassurance until assistance arrived. Her nomination recognises a care champion for whom compassion is never simply part of a shift.
Barbara Baig: Care Personality of the Year finalist
Barbara Baig, Group Head of Quality and Continuous Improvement, leads quality improvement and governance across Trinity Homecare Group, working with operational and clinical teams to turn learning, regulatory insight and frontline experience into measurable improvements in care.
Her work has included strengthening quality governance and organisational learning, establishing Group Care Improvement Ambassadors across specialist areas including safeguarding, dementia, medication, nutrition and end-of-life care, and introducing practical learning programmes built around real care cases and emerging risks.
Her focus has been on moving quality beyond audit and compliance and embedding it into everyday practice, strengthening how learning, risk and good practice are shared across services.
Her Care Personality of the Year finalist place recognises her contribution to developing people, strengthening systems and building shared ownership of care quality across the organisation.
Trinity Homecare Worcester Park: Care Team of the Year finalist
The Worcester Park team, led by Registered Manager Summer Smith, has been shortlisted for The Worcester Park team, led by Registered Manager Summer Smith, has been shortlisted for its compassionate, skilled and highly personalised approach to visiting and live-in care. The team supports people to retain choice, identity and control, even as their needs become more complex.
For one long-standing client who is bedbound, her bedroom is where she spends much of her life. When she shared that she wanted the space to feel more like her own, colleagues volunteered their time to transform it using colours, photographs, memories and personal touches chosen by her.
The result gave her greater comfort, ownership and a sense of security. She described her new room as “a warm cocoon that I can feel safe in” and said: “It’s beautiful. It’s clean, fresh, safe and warm. I love it.”
The same commitment is reflected in the team’s long-term relationships and client feedback. Nine clients have been supported for more than ten years and two for more than fifteen years. Of 122 recent client reviews, 119 rated the service Very Satisfied or Completely Satisfied
The same commitment is reflected in the team’s long-term relationships and client feedback. Nine clients have been supported for more than ten years and two for more than fifteen years. Of 122 recent client reviews, 119 rated the service Very Satisfied or Completely Satisfied.
The team’s finalist place recognises care that goes beyond completing tasks. It is about understanding what matters to each person and finding practical ways to help them continue living a life that feels like their own.
Recognition for outstanding home care
Being named across five National Care Awards 2026 categories is a proud moment for everyone Five finalist places across five different categories tell a wider story about the people behind Trinity Homecare.
They recognise a carer who has spent a decade advocating for one person’s independence. A leader building careers and preparing carers for critical moments. A Care Manager who steps in when families need support quickly. A quality leader turning learning into better systems and practice. And a team whose relationships with some clients span more than 15 years.
Different roles. Different contributions. One clear result: better experiences and outcomes for the people receiving care at home.
We are proud to see Kate, Nicola, Rebecca, Barbara and the Worcester Park team recognised nationally, alongside the colleagues who work with them every day.
