A CARER turned Warwickshire care home boss has been awarded an OBE.
WCS Care’s chief executive, Ed Russell, has been named an Officer of the British Empire for his services to care home residents in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Ed’s care journey began in 1992 when he started as a carer at WCS Care, a registered charity that operates 13 care homes across Warwickshire. He has dedicated over 30 years of his working life to the improvement of the health, wellbeing and quality of life of residents living in residential care homes.
Having worked in most positions and gained experience of every role in a care home, Ed progressed through management to become WCS Care’s chief executive in 2020. Ed has persuaded providers across the sector of the need for change, driving innovation and positive transformation in the provision of care across the country and impacting the lives of thousands of people living in care homes today and in the future.
Ed said: “Wow. This is so amazing that work inside the UK’s care homes is being recognised in this way. I still remember my first day working as a carer, and now being able to challenge the UK and wider care sector is a privilege, looking differently at how we do things. Innovations like circadian rhythm lighting and acoustic night-time monitoring are but two of a long list of sustainable improvements which will make care homes of the future better for us all.
“I feel very honoured to receive this award as a representative of the so many amazing carers who strive every day to give the best life possible to care home residents.”
Adrian Levett, chair of the WCS Care Board of Trustees, added: “This is so well deserved. Ed often reflects to me that life is about opportunity – what you do with the time you have – the space between the dates at the start and end of life. Ed should be very proud of this honour. He has created and taken opportunities to positively impact the lives of so many care home residents, both now and for generations to come. Congratulations Ed.”
