A mental health nurse who uprooted more than 120 miles to start a new life in north Wales where she took on a role in a Welsh-speaking nursing home despite not knowing the language has been nominated for a prestigious award.

Alison Jones and her family made the long journey from Worcester where they’d lived for eight years to set up home in Criccieth, back in 2015 after her husband landed a new job.

Six months later a friend Alison made through the new school that her two daughters attend recommended that she join her in working at Plasgwyn Nursing Home, based in Criccieth and part of Cariad Care Homes.

Despite her reservations about not being able to speak Welsh, the 46-year-old was successful with her application and has been a hugely valued and important member of the team ever since - and is also well on her way to being a fluent Welsh speaker.

It’s Alison’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the residents at the home that has now led to her being named as a shortlisted finalist at the prestigious Wales Care Awards, known as the social care Oscars.

The awards are organised by Care Forum Wales and this year’s ceremony, which will be hosted by tenor and radio presenter Wynne Evans, better known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads, takes place at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, 18 October.

Alison, who is originally from Hereford, is in the running for the Independent Sector Nurse of the Year Award, sponsored by Ontex UK, after being nominated by nursing home manager Jill Jones who described it as a ‘privilege’ to work with her.

Alison said: “I was absolutely floored when I found out I’d been nominated.

“They feel that I’m special and that is so lovely.

“I didn’t actually think I’d get the job back in 2015 because everyone speaks fluent Welsh. But they said we don’t turn nurses away!

“When I visited it was the matron at the time Sue Fryatt who won me over - she is an inspirational nurse. It’s such a lovely place to work, it’s like a big family.

“A lot of the residents are in the latter stages of their life and don’t want to or just don’t speak English at all. People are so polite with me but it’s something I want to tackle. I want to be bilingual.”

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online on Thursday