THE chef at a Cowdenbeath care home, Robert Culross, has been recognised as one of the leading care home employees in Scotland.

He will be invited to a prestigious evening awards ceremony celebrating the best of the independent care home sector.

The chef at Roselea House, in Stenhouse Street, has been nominated in the Nutrition and Eating Well category at the Scottish Care Awards 2018. This award celebrates the provision of a worthwhile mealtime experience within a care home.

The winner will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Friday November 16 at the Hilton Hotel, in Glasgow. The Awards will be hosted by TV star Michelle McManus, with over 650 people attending.

Robert was delighted to have been recognised and said: “I am very surprised but thrilled and honoured to be chosen as a finalist in these prestigious awards.”

Rosela Manager Debbie Armour, who nominated Robert, said: “Roselea is a specialist dementia home for 20 residents. Robert began to look at ways the whole experience could be enhanced.

“He provides a high tea experience every day at 3pm with old fashioned tiered cake stands and china. He has perfected the art of pureed cakes, scones and sandwiches - you’d never know the difference. And pureed main meals are also a specialism. "Once he perfected the taste and texture we purchased special food moulds. Sausages look like sausages, peas like peas and gammon steaks like gammon steaks. Robert’s a real asset: the icing on the cake and without him we'd be flat as a pancake.”

The awards have been hailed a huge success in recognising individuals, teams and companies, who are delivering care at an incredibly high standard in an era of challenging budgets and within an increasingly demanding work environment.

The care awards will follow a full day conference with speakers including the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, Jeane Freeman.