Caremark, a leading UK home care provider, has announced the finalists for its annual UK awards, ‘The Incredibles’ and Amanda Buckthorpe from Caremark’s Southend & Rochford franchise has been recognised in the country’s top ten care assistants. With over 6,500 care assistants across more than 140 Caremark franchises throughout the UK, the selection process was particularly competitive.
‘The Incredibles’ awards celebrate the contributions of care assistants who demonstrate an exceptional dedication to providing outstanding care. Amanda stood out for her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of her customers, offering not only professional care but compassion and kindness that has a lasting impact on those she supports.
Amanda, who has been with Caremark since 2009, cares for one customer for over 12 hours each day and has been her care assistant for over 10 years. The customer is paralysed from the neck down so requires an extensive level of care. Amanda not only looks after the customer’s feeding and daily care needs but also tended to them during a recent hospital stay. She supported both the customer and their family following a recent loss, and extended her care to the customer’s husband when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Commenting on the care she receives from Amanda, the customer said: “Amanda has been with us for a long time, and I would never want to lose her. The care she gives me is amazing, but not only does she support me she is also there for my husband too. She is kind, lovely to be around, and there is nothing that is too much trouble for her.”
Deepak Menon, Managing Director of Caremark’s Southend & Rochford franchise, noted that Amanda has changed her plans on numerous occasions to help support cover that ensured continuity of care for her customer. She also books her holidays when the customer has hers, so she can be there for her when she is needed.
Commenting on her long career as a care assistant, Amanda said: “My first shift was a night shift. I was about to go home but I didn’t want them to be short staffed, so I did an extra shift. That evening, I met a lady with dementia. I sat with her most of the evening and when I went home, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. And that was it really. That was 33 years ago!”
To honour these care assistants, Caremark will be hosting a special event at the iconic Fortnum & Mason in London on 21st November 2025. The finalists will enjoy an afternoon tea and be celebrated for their contributions to the care sector. The highlight of the event will be the announcement of ‘The Incredible of the Year’, a title reserved for the finalist whose work has shown exceptional dedication and impact.
David Glover, CEO of Caremark, praised all ten finalists for their outstanding achievements:
“Huge congratulations to Amanda and our other 2025 ‘Incredibles’ finalists – the nominees for this year’s award are nothing short of remarkable. These are people who not only perform their jobs with excellence but do so with a deep sense of empathy and a genuine desire to improve the lives of others. We are incredibly proud of Amanda and all our finalists, who represent the very heart of Caremark and the broader care community.
“We hope this recognition shows our finalists how much we appreciate their compassion and inspires even more stories next year.”
