Jenna Evans, who leads the Pendine Academy of Social Care, has been shortlisted in the commitment to training and development category at this year’s Wales Care Awards.
The 42-year-old helps train up to 3,000 care workers a year. She heads a team that helps staff from 30 care providers across North and Mid Wales develop the skills needed to provide high quality care.
The awards ceremony takes place at Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on 16 October.
Jenna, who has worked in social care for 23 years, joined the academy nine years ago and was appointed manager in April by the Pendine Park care organisation, which has nine care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon. She was previously deputy manager to her predecessor, Ann Serridge, who retired in March and nominated her for the award.
The Wrexham-based academy has a team of seven assessors and three administration staff, and offers a virtual training centre with recreations of a residents’ lounge, bedroom and dining area.
Jenna said: “I am really honoured to be named a finalist to be honest, I’m very proud of that and my family are all very proud of me too.”
She added: “We have about 850 staff in our homes at Pendine alone, and I oversee all their training, but I don’t, and couldn’t, do it on my own, it is a team effort.”
Ann Serridge said: “She ensures that all assessment decisions are fair, evidence-based, and fully aligned with regulatory and awarding body requirements.”
Mario Kreft MBE, who founded Pendine Park with his wife Gill in 1985 and established the Wales Care Awards in 2003, said: “We want all carers to provide excellent care and to do that we need their training to be of an excellent standard.”
Jenna lives in Wrexham with her partner Gavin Adamson and their 16-year-old son Dylan.
