Dedicated care professionals from across the county were recognised for their work at the annual Hertfordshire Care Awards on Thursday (November 28).

Care providers from all areas of Hertfordshire came together for an evening of celebration, where best practice and innovation in care were applauded.

Each care company submitted nominations for their staff or whole organisation, judged by local authority representatives from Hertfordshire County Council Adult Social Care, the NHS and other organisations. Those top scoring were invited to attend the glittering awards ceremony.

For the fourteenth year running, Hertfordshire Care Providers Association pulled out all the stops for the evening at Willows Farm in St Albans.

A host of celebrity well-wishers sent messages of thanks, including appearances from Duncan James from ‘Blue’, Chesney Hawkes and Danny Dyer.

Guests were taken back to the roaring 20s with a host of dazzling circus performances from world class performers. The audience also took part in a number of fun games which raised money for The Care Workers’ Charity.

On putting together the 14th Hertfordshire Care Awards, Director of Operations for HCPA and presenter of the awards event, Wesley Strahan-Hughes said: "This amazing night was very much needed after a very tough few years for our care sector.

"All the finalists were worthy of their accolades as well as the winners of the awards. It was wonderful to see front-line care staff fully let their hair down, plus get their moment to shine."

This year's winners were:

Outstanding Achievement in Homecare, sponsored by Care Choices Magazine– Izabela Czopik, Astute Homecare, Bishops Stortford

Outstanding achievement homecare winner, Izabela CzopikOutstanding achievement homecare winner, Izabela Czopik (Image: Danny Loo) Most Innovative Homecare Team, sponsored by Specsavers – Anchusa Care, Hitchin

Most Innovative Homecare Team winner Anchusa CareMost Innovative Homecare Team winner Anchusa Care (Image: Danny Loo) The Contribution to Care Award, sponsored by Overseas Immigration–The Safer Places Team, Druglink, Hemel Hempstead

Contribution to Care winner, the Safer Places TeamContribution to Care winner, the Safer Places Team (Image: Danny Loo) The Compassion Award for Residential Care, sponsored by Howden – Nicol Tachie, Hatfield Nursing Home, Hatfield

Compassionate Award in residential care award winner Nicol TachieCompassionate Award in residential care award winner Nicol Tachie (Image: Danny Loo) Most Innovative Residential Care Team, sponsored by petito – Osbourne Court Care Home, Baldock

Most Innovative Residential Care Team winners Osbourne CourtMost Innovative Residential Care Team winners Osbourne Court (Image: Danny Loo) The Care Culture Award, sponsored by Virtual IT  - Abbots Care, St Albans

Care Culture Award winners Abbots CareCare Culture Award winners Abbots Care (Image: Danny Loo) The Care Leadership Award, sponsored by HCR Law – Jenny Green, St Elizabeth’s, Much Hadham

Care Leadership award winner Jenny GreenCare Leadership award winner Jenny Green (Image: Danny Loo) Outstanding Achievement in Adult Disability Support, sponsored by Inception – Abin Peter, Sleapcross House, St Albans

Outstanding achievement in adult disability or mental health support winner Abin PeterOutstanding achievement in adult disability or mental health support winner Abin Peter (Image: Danny Loo) Most Innovative Adult Disability or Mental Health Support Team, sponsored by Peninsula, – Compassion Plus Healthcare, Letchworth

Most Innovative Adult Disability or Mental Health Team award winners Compassionate Plus CareMost Innovative Adult Disability or Mental Health Team award winners Compassionate Plus Care (Image: Danny Loo)