THE amazing care her mum received when she entered a home fuelled Julie Partlett's desire to become a carer herself.

Now three and a half years into her job at Middleton Grange Care Home in Hailey near Witney, Mrs Partlett says she "absolutely loves it".

The 58-year-old who lives in Witney, said: "My mother, Mrs Cantwell, needed to go into a home and I was just blown away by the care she had.

"I remember I was driving through Hailey one day and I saw one of those recruitment boards in a carpark.

"I saw the advertisement for carers and I just thought, yes this is what I want to do.

"I could not believe it when I got the job, it all happened so quickly and now it is a huge part of my life."

But Mrs Partlett said she would not be able to do the work she does without the team spirit of the other carers at Middleton Grange.

She added: "We are one big family and we are there to support each other as well of course as the residents.

"It can be really hard, tiring work but my colleagues help to make it even more worthwhile.

"Everyone works so hard here because we all want to give the best standard of care to the wonderful people we look after.

"I would recommend being a carer because there is nothing like the feeling of knowing you are improving someone's quality of life."

Last year she was nominated and won the award for care or support staff at Age UK Oxfordshire's Dignity in Care Awards.

Mrs Partlett was nominated by the wife of a resident at Middleton Grange, who described her as an "unbelievably good carer".

The nomination read: "She is unfailingly cheerful.

"Many times she has come to take a patient out to the local pub, or just for a walk pushing a rather heavy wheelchair.

"This person works her butt off for her patients and I earnestly beg that she is rewarded."

But the award came as a total shock to Mrs Partlett.

She said: "You do not become a carer to win awards but it was so lovely to be recognised by a family I had helped.

"It really should have been for all my friends at Middleton Grange because everyone just mucks in and does a fantastic job.

"It is so important for us carers to have these awards and to be recognised by someone else as doing a good job.

"It is rewarding anyway but the Dignity in Care Awards are the icing on the cake."

For more information about this year's Dignity in Care Awards visit: ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/news--campaigns/dignityincare/