Karla Lynch wins HR of the Year at national home care awards

“The HR of the Year award is presented to someone who demonstrates innovation and a positive contribution to staffing through enhanced recruitment and improved retention.”

Kells woman Karla Lynch, who joined Dovida in 2020 and has worked her way up to HR Lead, scooped the prestigious HR of the Year award at the 4th Annual Home and Community Ireland (HCCI) Home Care Awards.

The HR of the Year award is presented to someone who demonstrates innovation and a positive contribution to staffing through enhanced recruitment and improved retention. The award recognises an individual who fosters team wellbeing and strives to nurture a caring workplace for all team members.

“Karla is organised, reliable, punctual, full of energy and embraces everything that she is asked to do. She is a very strong character and an extremely funny person and is highly regarded by her colleagues,” Dovida Meath General Manager, Catherine Vodden, said.

“To see her win the acclaim of the sector is a fantastic achievement. We’re all so proud of her; she deserves it”.

“Karla was already recognised by her peers earlier this year by being named HR of the Year at Dovida’s national conference, so we all know the qualities she brings to the office every day. To see her win the acclaim of the sector is a fantastic achievement. We’re all so proud of her; she deserves it,” Catherine continued.

Leading by example

“Working on retention and engagement, Karla has introduced a new caregiver coffee morning to make support more accessible. Karla hosts monthly coffee mornings at local cafés, which offer a relaxed setting for informal check-ins over coffee and a bun. These gatherings provide a valuable opportunity for Karla to stay connected with caregivers, identify any potential issues and offer timely support,” Catherine added.

A hat-trick of wins for Dovida

Karla’s win was the first of three on the night for Dovida. Her colleagues from Dovida’s Sligo/Leitrim/Roscommon office, Bridget McGrath and Michaela Byrne, were named Manager of the Year and Scheduler of the Year, respectively.

“It is a fantastic achievement to win one of these awards, so for us to win three in one night makes me immensely proud,” Shane Jennings, CEO of Dovida Ireland, said.

The HCCI Home Care Awards reward individuals for their outstanding contributions to the Irish home care sector. This year’s awards took place in Athlone on Thursday, September 11th. Dovida was shortlisted in six categories, making this the company’s best year yet for winners and nominees.