Oakland Care CEO Joanne Balmer (BEM) attends Investiture for British Empire Medal

Our Oakland Care CEO Joanne Balmer (BEM) has attended her Investiture for her British Empire Medal. The Investiture by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence OBE QPM, was held at Great St Mary’s, The University Church in Cambridge on Monday 15^th November 2021.  Various other dignitaries were also in attendance at this auspicious occasion including, Master of Ceremonies, Colonel Roger Herriot OBE DL, the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, and the Mayor of Cambridge and other Deputy Lieutenants.

This year, Joanne was awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to Social Care during the pandemic.  She was also given the commendation in recognition of her leadership of our six luxury care homes across the country during the turbulence brought on by COVID-19. Under her leadership, each of our care homes continued to deliver industry-leading care, always prioritising the physical and emotional wellbeing of residents and team members.

Joanne’s citation was read by the Honourable Frances Stanley, who noted how Joanne ‘demonstrated real authentic leadership by reaching out to families directly’ during the pandemic. She also described how Joanne recognised the impact of isolation on residents very early on in the pandemic and was the first in the UK to devise a plan to reinstate visits for residents to mitigate this. In doing so, in the month of June 2020, Oakland Care facilitated 170 visits for relatives which was a huge a comfort and relief for all concerned. She also noted how Joanne ‘Inspired and drove her team to accelerate improvement projects throughout the pandemic to deliver outstanding results’.

Congratulations Joanne on receiving this prestigious honour from your entire Oakland Care Family.