Agincare wants to recognise and reward its hard-working and dedicated staff and needs your help.

The independent care provider - which is based in Dorset and runs Dorchester's Cheriton Care Home - has launched the Agincare Heroes awards and is calling on the public to nominate unsung heroes they feel have gone above and beyond.

Has a member of staff really impressed you and left their mark, are always friendly and welcoming, helped you, provided outstanding care that you want to shout about - anything that you feel deserves recognition? Then nominate them for the special award!

Any Agincare team member can be nominated for the award - whether its frontline staff in care homes and domiciliary workers or customer service and office support workers.

Founder and chairman, Derek Luckhurst and chief executive Raina Summerson, along with the rest of Agincare's board of directors, will have the difficult job of reviewing the nominations. Only a limited number of awards are presented each year.

Mr Luckhurst said: "The Agincare Hero medal is our equivalent of the George Cross to recognise absolutely outstanding contributions and incredible individual acts by our team members.

"Every role at Agincare is crucial to delivering support to those whom we care for; and the professionalism and dedication of our team members are the reason why our feedback is consistently positive.

"However, we want to search out, acknowledge and give special recognition to those extraordinary unsung heroes who really do go above and beyond the normal call of duty.

"Agincare Heroes will recognise and reward all manner of great service. From life-enhancing consistent care through to single acts of kindness, bravery or selflessness."

This comes after the team at Cheriton Care Home, on Weymouth Avenue, recently received some glowing comments from relatives of residents at the care home, describing the staff as dedicated, kind, friendly and "making the world a better place".

Raina Summerson, Agincare's chief executive, said: "Social care during this period has been in the spotlight throughout Covid, and the pressure on our colleagues has been immeasurable. However, this award is not just Covid focussed, and any extraordinary act or contribution by a team member can be nominated.

"This has been an incomparable time, which has highlighted that social care workers are often the forgotten heroes.

"If you know of someone in the team who has gone that extra mile for you or a loved one, then please do nominate them for an Agincare Heroes award."

Agincare, which has its headquarters on Portland, has grown to offering care nationwide in more than 50 locations with some 3,500 staff from its first care home in Weymouth, Agincourt. And this year the care provider marks its 35th anniversary.

To nominate an unsung hero, visit Agincare.com/careheroes

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