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A mum-of-two from Crosskeys, dubbed an “inspiration” by her colleagues, has been celebrating a win at the Wales Care Awards.

Rachael Hawkins, 43, has been working in the social care sector for 24 years, having initially taking on administrative roles when she left school.

Starting out as a support worker, Rachael quickly rose through the ranks, investing her commitment and passion into helping vulnerable adults and young people to fulfil their potential.

She is now head of operations in Wales for Achieve Together, a company providing support for people with learning disabilities, autism, and other complex needs.

Her work saw her win silver in the Leadership and Management in Residential Care Services Award category last month.

The awards, organise by Care Forum Wales, were held at Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, and hosted by radio and television presenter Jason Mohammad.

Speaking about her award, Rachael said: “It’s a shock and I’m really overwhelmed but I’m pleased to be nominated.

“I like to complete my role silently, remain humble without looking for personal recognition. I prefer to celebrate the success of my team and reflect privately on my own.”

She continued: “We do a difficult job, and we try to celebrate every success, no matter how small. I am in a different role to the one I started in, but I’m connected to the homes on a day-to-day basis. It is so important to understand the needs of the people we support.

“Initially, working in social care was a temporary decision for me, but I really enjoyed it and thus my career got underway – this is definitely the right one for me.”

Rachael’s job sees her lead a team of five regional managers, who collectively manage 46 home managers. She visits each home every three months to ensure they are running safely and effectively.

Rachael credits her success with a genuine love of her job: “If you lead with passion, it really helps. My team and I are invested in the job that we do.”

Rachael was nominated for the award by regional manager Ann-Marie Harris, who described her as an “inspiration” who is looked up to by all team members, people the organisation supports, and the teams she manages.

“It’s so hard to encapsulate all of Rachael’s capabilities and contributions but her positive energy and personal touch is apparent across our teams,” Ms Harris said.