A carer from The Old Parsonage Brendoncare Home, Otterbourne, and two staff from the charity's central office in nearby Winchester have won awards.

They were presented at an event to mark Brendoncare's 20th anniversary, coinciding with the unveiling of a new scheme for the provision of care for older people.

"Great Expectations" was held at the Royal College of Nursing in London, in front of an audience of leading figures from the care sector - staff, volunteers and supporters.

RCN general secretary, Dr Beverly Malone, presented a Brendoncare Nurse award to care support manager, Sam Foti, and BrendonCarer awards to care assistants, Christine Adams and Wendy Rice.

Sam joined Brendoncare in 1999 as head of home at The Old Parsonage, moving to central office last year.

A highly-experienced nurse, Sam has recently written a paper on "Intermediate Care in Nursing Homes" which is soon to be published and she is currently undertaking her BSc in Health and Social Care.

Wendy worked as a care assistant at The Old Parsonage for 15 years, joining the central office team last year while Chris has been a carer there from day one in 1988.

Brendoncare's chief executive, Ron Staker, said: "The award winners contribute a great deal of their own time and show tremendous commitment. They give that extra bit of attention which enables them to understand and respond appropriately to residents' wishes.

The event also saw the launching of "Total Care in Housing," an innovative concept which will allow even highly dependent older people to live in their own home and receive as much or as little care as they need with a stronger emphasis than ever before on individual choice, independence and "wellness".

Mr Staker explained: "The development of this new concept grew from our determination to offer our clients independence rather than dependence, focus on 'wellness', not sickness, and give each individual older person the best possible quality of life."

Keynote addresses were given by Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, and former Home Secretary, Lord Kenneth Baker, of Dorking who spoke about "Great Expectations of Old Age."

Brendoncare operates seven nursing homes, four of which have or close care accommodation, and it also provides daycare and some homecare services.

The Old Parsonage provides nursing care for 31 people, including four intermediate care beds, with a 22-unit sheltered housing complex in the grounds.