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RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2027

Care Home Nursing Award

RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards

About the category

RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2027

As the complexity of residents’ clinical need increases, the skills, competencies and availability of nursing staff in care homes is increasingly important. They play a fundamental role in ensuring residents receive high quality, safe care and are treated with dignity and respect.

Open to registered nurses and nursing support workers working in Scotland’s care homes, this award aims to recognise the impact and importance of nursing in social care and those who have made an outstanding contribution to care and quality of life for residents in a care home. 

Who can be nominated?

A registered nurse or nursing support worker who is delegated work by a registered nurse and is working in a clinical role in a care home setting in Scotland. This could be in a local authority, or the independent or third sector.

What is the criteria for consideration?

Each nominee must clearly demonstrate:

  • a commitment to person-centred care, innovation and delivering high quality services that make a difference to the people receiving care
  • the positive impact of their work for residents, families and colleagues
  • the use of a credible evidence base and/or developing an evidence base to underpin the work for which they are being nominated
  • how their work contributes to the delivery of local and national policy and strategy within health and social care.

If you have any questions or queries regarding the awards, please get in touch by emailing scotlandnurseawards@rcn.org.uk

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Submit a nomination

Nominate now

We have prepared some guidance which you may find useful when writing your nomination.

Ready to nominate?

Click 'Nominate now' below and fully complete the form to submit your nomination making sure your submission evidences how your candidate meets the criteria for the award. 

NOMINATE NOW

Nomination deadlines

The nomination process opened on 14 September and will be open until midnight on 20 November 2026.

What makes a winner?

Read about our previous winners of this category and what made them stand out as the #BestOfNursing in Scotland's care home nursing sector.

Lori Fisher Service Quality Manager
BCG Cares

Lori is described as an inspirational and highly influential nursing leader whose work seamlessly integrates compassion, clinical excellence, and innovative, evidence-based approaches to transform care for older people in care homes. She uses outcomes and data to inform learning at both organisational and individual nurse levels, translating negative clinical incidents into actionable improvements, visiting care homes directly to guide practice, reduce risks, and encourage reflection, which in turn decreases the need for NMC referrals and enhances patient safety. She has implemented impactful initiatives such as “Stop the Pressure Day,” coordinating stakeholders, securing budgets, and creating engaging educational events across multiple care homes, ensuring consistent standards and promoting awareness on critical care issues. Lori is a courageous advocate for social care nurses, challenging disparities with the NHS, promoting professional parity, and ensuring good practice is not limited by geographic or organisational boundaries. Her vision, dedication, and ability to hold senior leadership accountable make her a transformative force and a catalyst for excellence across the care sector.
Jennifer Carruthers

Deputy Manager, Rashielee Care Home, Erskine

Jennifer is a passionate and dedicated care home nurse. Her nomination demonstrated her person-centered care through integrating emotional intelligence with clinical skills and advocating for care home nursing as a holistic discipline. With experience in both NHS and care homes, Jennifer identified the challenges of transitioning into care homes and has worked to ease the process for residents and families, implementing trust-building measures, such as visiting prospective residents in their current settings, inviting them for informal visits, and encouraging personalised spaces to foster a sense of belonging. Jennifer excels in palliative care, leading future care planning discussions and creating a dignified end-of-life experience. She has also introduced innovative practices, such as Namaste care, Playlist for Life, and intergenerational activities, enriching residents’ lives. Her work sets a benchmark for excellence, demonstrating the profound impact of compassionate leadership in care home nursing.

Care-Home-Robyn-Oliphant

Clinical Lead, Lisden Nursing Home, Balhousie Care Group

Robyn, the Clinical Lead at Lisden Care Home, is nominated for her outstanding dedication and contribution. Robyn's commitment to person-centred care is evident in her empathetic approach and focus on creating a positive environment for residents. She not only excels in clinical care but also demonstrates strong leadership qualities, collaborating with the Balhousie Care Group Operations Team to enhance services and promote staff development. Robyn's positive impact on residents, families and colleagues is recognised, and she maintains a credible evidence base for care provision through continuous improvement and adherence to standards. Additionally, her involvement in local and national policy initiatives showcases her commitment to broader health care strategies. Robyn's contributions are measurable through positive feedback and trust from the community, and her journey from carer to clinical lead serves as an inspiring example for the nursing profession. 

Arlene Fox

Interim Care Home Manager, Nightingale Care Home, Sterling Care Homes Ltd

Described by her colleagues as a care home manager with a passion for improving the care and services offered to the residents of the Nightingale Care Home. These improvements are clearly evidenced in her nominations for her work on food, fluid and nutrition (FFN). Working with NHS dieticians and being open to learning from nutritional audits, Arlene has completely overhauled food provision, developing the whole team to be upskilled in FFN. Her holistic approach has also seen her develop the environments where food is served, creating innovative calming spaces for residents. Arlene also encourages resident to be part of decisions about menus, encouraging resident to join staff on trips to the shops to buy the food that will be served. Other initiatives introduced by Arlene support physical fitness with adapted spin classes, yoga, and themed activities for events such as Wimbledon. Her nominators note that Arlene has turned this care home around despite the challenges of the pandemic and the wider challenges of recruitment and retention of staff. Arlene is keen to note that her staff work with her and not for her, she is always seen in the same uniform as her team and often assists care. Her staff are supported to contribute to the ongoing improvements within the home. Arlene is keen to raise the profile of holistic care home nursing and the positive outcomes it can achieve.

Page last updated - 14/09/2026