SYLWIA Indycka, manager of Haslemere’s Chestnut View Care Home, is celebrating winning through to the finals of the 2017 Surrey Care Awards.

Nominations poured in for Sylwia, who was appointed manager in 2015, from staff, residents and relatives.

She was praised for improvements reflected in the Care Quality Commission’s “good overall” rating in March and for changing the way dementia care was viewed by relatives.

Sylwia started a dedicated support group, which meets every three months, and where residents and their families can discuss different aspects of how dementia affects their lives.

Sylwia said: “I was nominated by lovely staff and residents from Chestnut View, who I would like to thank very much.

“The nomination was a surprise to me and I did not expect to get as far.

“This is great achievement for me but also for our lovely care home.

“I could not do anything without the fantastic support from all my residents, staff and relatives.”

•Chestnut View held a Remembrance Day coffee morning to honour residents who had served in WWII.

Royal British Legion Haslemere branch chairman William King attended and chatted with residents about their time in the services.

Residents wore their medals and read some moving poems including ‘In Flanders Fields’, before observing the two-minutes silence at 11am.

Afterwards, a wreath was laid and a plaque of remembrance erected in the garden.