Outstanding care assistant wins national ‘Incredible of The Year’ award

At a prestigious awards ceremony held at Fortnum & Mason in London, leading UK care provider Caremark crowned Arjanpreet [Preet] Kaur – a care assistant from Cardiff – as ‘The Incredible of The Year’. Preet stood out for her exceptional caregiving, triumphing over ten outstanding finalists and a pool of more than 5,500 care assistants from across the UK.

Sharan Dhaliwal, Managing Director and Care Manager at Caremark Cardiff and the Vale, shared Preet’s story:

There were nine other outstanding finalists at the awards ceremony, so we are absolutely thrilled that Preet has won; she is a true beacon of hope and compassion in the lives of her customers. Her dedication is best illustrated by the profound impact she’s had on people she’s cared for.

These are just a couple of examples from Preet’s extensive nomination:

“One of her customers, who has hypertension, suffered a stroke during a routine care call. Preet quickly recognised the signs, called 999 and provided crucial details to the paramedics. Doctors stated that the outcome could have been far worse if it hadn’t been for her swift action. This customer often says, “Preet didn’t just care for me – she saved my life.”

“In another instance, she provided care for a customer in the final stages of their life, who was suffering with multiple complex conditions. Preet formed a close emotional bond with her, spent extra hours with her medical team to make sure her care was perfect, and even learned key Welsh phrases to communicate in her own language, bringing great comfort. The family expressed deep gratitude, saying, “Preet’s care for my mother is beyond anything we could have hoped for. . . she brings a calm and compassionate presence into our home. . . I honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.”

“Preet helped another customer with vascular dementia, who refused to let any care staff into her home. With patience and gentle persistence, she spoke to her through the door, slowly gaining her trust. Before long, Preet was able to go in and their bond blossomed. The customer’s daughter spoke of Preet’s impact with deep emotion, saying: “Preet completely transformed things for my mum. Before she arrived, my mother wouldn’t let anyone into the house - she was isolated and scared. Now, they sing and dance together. I never imagined that was possible.”

David Glover, CEO of Caremark, praised Preet’s achievements, adding:

With over 5,500 care assistants at Caremark, it’s been humbling to read through so many commendable nominations for this year’s awards. Our annual ceremony is about celebrating the very best of what we do at Caremark – providing exceptional, highly-personalised care.

“Hearing the life-changing stories of our ten finalists has been extremely moving. However, it was the sheer number of these accounts of kindness, compassion and dedication to her role that has seen Preet named our very worthy champion. Her ability to connect deeply with each person she cares for has made her an indispensable part of the Caremark team and a cherished companion to her customers. Congratulations to all our finalists and especially to our ‘Incredible of The Year’ for 2024, Preet!”