“To receive this recognition in Britain, as someone who moved from another country, for helping our society is really fantastic.”
Bogumil Cwiklak, who joined OSJCT when he was recruited from Poland through an overseas recruitment drive in 2007, and is now the Assistant Operations Director at The Fremantle Trust, has been awarded an honorary British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to adult social care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bogumil Cwiklak, who joined OSJCT when he was recruited from Poland through an overseas recruitment drive in 2007, has been awarded an honorary British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to adult social care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bogumil joined OSJCT as a Carer at Grevill House in Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, and is now Assistant Regional Director – Special Projects. During his long-standing career with OSJCT, he has gained extensive experience in delivering and managing positive change in adult social care and is currently supporting operations at The Fremantle Trust, which recently merged with OSJCT.
Bogumil joined OSJCT as a Carer at Grevill House in Charlton Kings, near Cheltenham, and is now Assistant Regional Director – Special Projects. During his long-standing career with OSJCT, he has gained extensive experience in delivering and managing positive change in adult social care and is currently supporting operations at The Fremantle Trust, which recently merged with OSJCT.
Bogumil said: “When I first thought about moving to the UK, I thought it would be for a couple of years. However, I soon found that working at OSJCT offered me the opportunity to follow my ambitions. The Trust has strong values and Ewa (my wife) and I have always felt supported.
“We’ve stayed at OSJCT, and in the UK, thanks to the strong community feel, very friendly teams and working in roles where we can improve people’s lives.
On receiving news of his BEM, Bogumil said: “I was very surprised to be nominated for this unexpected honour. To receive this recognition in Britain, as someone who moved from another country, for helping our society, is really fantastic.
“I arrived in the UK 17 years ago with just one small suitcase, but with passion and energy to make a contribution and share my skills. This honour is very special to me. The UK is a place where your dreams can come true.”
Dan Hayes, Chief Executive Officer, said:
“We are thrilled that Bogumil has been awarded the honorary British Empire Medal. His passion and dedication to adult social care are clear to all who work with him. From the pandemic to ongoing organisational change, Bogumil brings compassion, expertise, and total commitment.
“Throughout the pandemic Bogumil put his job, and the wellbeing of our residents and employees across Gloucestershire first. His tenacity and drive were immense and with strong resilience he skilfully led his colleagues through a constantly changing and difficult period.
Bogumil has been a force for good since he joined the Trust, and I am proud to call him my colleague.”
Inspired by personal experience in hospital
Bogumil’s drive to promote compassionate, high-quality healthcare, and desire to effect positive change has been inspired by his own experience of care as a child, when he spent time in hospital after operations due to scoliosis - a genetic spinal condition.
He said: “I remember two male nurses on the paediatric wards, they were very caring and engaged. They made the experience I had better. From that early age I learned that nursing is holistic, as well as clinical. Care is about being with people, and bringing ease and humour to what can be a difficult time.”
Moving to the UK
Bogumil moved to the UK in January 2007, following his wedding to Ewa, who also joined OSJCT in May 2007 to work at Grevill House. Bogumil, Ewa and their three children are now happily settled in Gloucestershire.
He said “We’ve stayed at OSJCT, and in the UK, thanks to the strong community feel, very friendly teams and working in roles where we can improve people’s lives.
Last year Bogumil played a pivotal role in the overseas recruitment project which the Trust runs to offer opportunities for skilled nurses and carers to join OSJCT. With his knowledge of the challenges of moving to a new country, coping with a secondary language, and not knowing the local geography, Bogumil has helped to ensure that new recruits are supported from the moment they arrive. Overseas carers are met at the airport, given sim cards, welcome packs and supported with finding accommodation and learning about local transportation.
Bogumil’s career at OSJCT
Bogumil joined OSJCT as a Carer at Grevill House after responding to an overseas recruitment campaign. As a qualified nurse in Poland and with experience in mental health and psychiatric nursing, Bogumil quickly progressed to Care Leader, and then Head of Dementia Care. Bogumil followed a management career path and moved to Monkscroft Care Centre to become Deputy Manager in January 2017, before taking on the role of Home Manager later that year. Bogumil helped the home prepare for a summer CQC inspection, and the home has held an Outstanding CQC rating ever since.
In February 2019 Bogumil became a Peri-Manager in Gloucestershire, and then an Area Operations Manager in February 2020. In June 2021 he became Operational Change Lead across the Trust, and in November 2023, Assistant Regional Director – Special Projects.
Pandemic
At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bogumil was supporting 17 Gloucestershire homes, when the first cases in the Trust emerged, following the Cheltenham Races in March. Illness appeared among residents and employees, and everyone was worried about the new virus. During March 2020 Bogumil found himself working long hours organising and delivering much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) to OSJCT care homes across the country. In subsequent months Bogumil was instrumental in leading the establishment of Hospital Discharge Units (HDSUs) in several Gloucestershire homes and later Covid-19 Designated Sites, where care teams knew they would be caring for people very poorly with Covid-19.
Bogumil worked at pace with numerous partners to set up these new units in OSJCT care homes. He organised risk assessments, secured local authority funding, established new teams who moved from their day job to work in dedicated teams with patients coming from NHS hospitals and co-ordinated CQC approval to open the sites. These sites were instrumental in easing the pressure on the NHS and also offered poorly patients a safe, compassionate experience of care in a community setting.
Bogumil achieved extraordinary change during extremely challenging times. He said: “It’s always important to stay positive about change, and to make a confident first impression. We have great people at OSJCT who are committed to making a difference, supporting them through these times was a privilege.
“During those first few months, we had momentum, and the people who chose to join the HDSU and hot sites, despite the risks of Covid-19, are very special. Knowing that we were making a difference kept us all going through the difficult days.”