Leslie Wheelan, 68, from Morriston, had spent most of his adult life working in cosmetics factories before being made redundant in his early 50s. With a mortgage to pay and two teenage daughters at home, he decided to take a leap of faith and applied for a job with Swansea‑based M&D Care.
To his surprise, he discovered his true calling.
Now a senior support worker at a Supported Living Service in Crown Street, Morriston, Leslie helps adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs to fulfil their goals and regain independence. His dedication has seen him shortlisted for the Care Practitioner in Small Group or Supported Living Award, sponsored by Cartref Ni, at this year’s Wales Care Awards.
The awards, organised by Care Forum Wales and sponsored overall by Meddyg Care, celebrate the frontline heroes of social care. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a gold, silver or bronze award at the ceremony, which takes place at Cardiff’s Holland House Hotel on Friday, October 17.
Leslie, a grandfather of eight, said he was “over the moon” to be nominated.
“I was quite taken aback when I found out – it’s not often you get to be nominated for a national award. My manager put me forward, she pushes us to be the best we can be and is an inspiration. We all work as a team, and it’s a team effort. I’m elated.”
After leaving school in Birchgrove, Leslie worked in factories for decades and had never considered a career in care. But redundancy forced him to rethink.
“It was a very daunting experience. My daughters were in their teens, I had a mortgage, and everything runs through your mind at 100 miles per hour. It wasn’t a nice time.
I took a year out and then spotted a job with M&D Care in the local paper. I was nervous at first, but once I started I realised I’d been doing it my whole life. As the eldest of seven, I was dressing my brothers and sisters, getting them to school before I even got ready myself. Without realising it, I was already doing care work.”
Now semi‑retired and working two days a week, Leslie is praised by colleagues for his calmness and ability to de‑escalate challenging situations.
“It’s very rewarding. You support someone for many years and then see them move on to independent living – that’s the greatest reward you could get. I’ve never won anything in my life, so just to be at the final is a privilege. The social care sector is very underrated and doesn’t get enough credit. It can be just as skilled and demanding as any other profession.”
Sian Henley‑Davies, M&D Care’s Marketing Coordinator, said:
“We are incredibly proud that three of our outstanding colleagues – Deborah Deru, Rob Hayward, and Les Whelan – have been named as finalists in this year’s Wales Care Awards. Their passion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the people we support make a real difference every single day.”
Mario Kreft MBE, Chair of Care Forum Wales, added:
“Every single one of our finalists is a winner and will be presented with a gold, silver or bronze award. The Wales Care Awards underline the importance of the social care sector – it is the glue that binds our communities together.”
