‘Beautiful Moment’ As Dorset Care Home Scoops Top National Award

An ‘exceptional and compassionate’ Dorset care home chef is celebrating national recognition for her culinary excellence and personalised approach to meeting residents’ food preferences and nutritional needs.

Beata Kaczynska, Head Chef at Colten Care’s Castle View in Poundbury, has been named Care Chef of the Year at the prestigious National Care Awards in London.

She was one of 11 finalists in the category and, describing the moment the award was announced, said:

“When they read my name out along with the others on the shortlist, my heart was pounding, it was pure adrenalin. But when I saw my face up on the big screen and they said I was the winner, I felt disbelief. I couldn’t believe it was really me."

"My Colten colleagues at our two tables were going ecstatic and cheering. It was such a beautiful moment. I felt great happiness, proud and honoured to be chosen. To be recognised by judges from across the care industry makes me feel really special. It shows they appreciate we are doing something meaningful here at Colten.”

After the ceremony, Beata said she received a warm welcome back at Castle View from residents, Home Manager Ashika Reddy and fellow team members, adding: “I believe a celebration is being planned.”

In her nomination for the award, Beata was praised as ‘a skilled, compassionate chef whose personalised approach combines culinary excellence, nutritional expertise and genuine understanding of the residents she cooks for every day’.

Examples cited included her management of a new resident’s malnutrition risk. By taking the time to learn and discuss his meal preferences, she successfully increased the calorie content of his meals without increasing their volume.

Combined with her introduction of homemade high-calorie milkshakes, the approach enabled the resident to rebuild his strength without compromising on medical requirements.

In their winner’s citation, judges wrote:

“Beata takes residents’ health and nutrition seriously without ever compromising on taste, with personalised food fortification leading to positive health outcomes. The judges were impressed by her commitment to quality, including training under Marco Pierre White.”

Colten Care’s Chief Operating Officer Elaine Farrer, who was sitting with Beata at the ceremony, said:

“Since joining Castle View in 2021, Beata has combined culinary skill with a detailed understanding of residents' nutritional needs, preferences and routines, ensuring food remains a source of nourishment, choice and genuine pleasure."

"We are all immensely proud of Beata, and it was a real joy to be with her and see her win on the night. Her residents and colleagues at Castle View will also be thrilled with her success.”

Also there on the night was Colten Care’s Head of Hospitality Richard Pearshouse who said:

“Beata goes above and beyond all the time to ensure her residents enjoy outstanding food and service. She does this tireless work without necessarily expecting recognition so to have gone through the awards process and won the national status that she rightly deserves is especially pleasing."

"The award is a reflection of just how great Colten Care chefs are. As a head chef in a care home you are the heart of the home and Beata is the very definition of this.”

Beata’s win is the latest National Care Awards success for Colten Care. Last year the provider won the gong for Care Home Group (Medium), for groups with 20 to 40 homes, and in 2022 Colten Chef Lorna Parsons won the same Care Chef of the Year category as Beata.

Since then, Lorna has been promoted to group-wide Development Chef with senior responsibilities across all 21 Colten Care homes including input to chef training, budgeting, stock management, menu choices and compliance on food safety standards.

The 2026 awards culminated in a ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hosted by comedian, writer and presenter Tom Allen.

As well as Beata’s win, Colten Care was highlighted as a finalist in five other categories.

The National Care Awards are designed to celebrate excellence across the long-term care sector.

Top Photo: Colten Care’s Beata Kaczynska, Head Chef at Castle View in Poundbury, Dorset, on stage at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge with her award for Care Chef of the Year. On the far left is ceremony host the comedian, writer and presenter Tom Allen.

Photo: Beata Kaczynska, Head Chef at Colten Care’s Castle View in Poundbury, has won the title of Care Chef of the Year at the National Care Awards. Here, Beata is pictured with Castle View resident Dorothy.