A CARE home in Worcester is celebrating after winning big at a national awards ceremony.
Katherine Matthews, Home Manager at Care UK’s Perry Manor on Charles Hastings Way, has won Silver in the Mental Health Nurse of the Year category at the British Journal of Nursing Awards 2026.
The BJN Awards celebrate excellence in nursing practice and research, recognising outstanding achievements across the nursing community.
Katherine began her nursing career in 1996, working in psychiatric hospitals for 11 years before moving into a care home setting in 2007 as the registered manager of Perry Manor.
Judges praised the culture Katherine set at the home, promoting empathy and sensitivity, as well as clinical excellence.
This included working with relative ambassadors to support people’s transition when a loved one is moving into a care home, as well as hosting monthly support groups and drop-in sessions for members of the team.
Katherine was originally put forward by a member of the Perry Manor team, who nominated her based on her contributions to mental health nursing and the positive effect her work has had on residents at the home.
Katherine said: “I’m honoured to have received this award among all the incredible nominees. It means a lot to have been recognised for work that is so important to me.
“I believe mental health should be at the forefront of everything we do, from caring for residents to supporting families.
“None of things we’ve achieved would have been possible without the team’s hard work, and our shared dedication to support people, even those traditional settings have failed.
“A big thank you to everyone at Perry Manor – you all continue to inspire me every day.”
