An inspirational Mountain Ash care worker renowned for ‘going the extra mile’ has been nominated for one of Wales’ top care awards.

Leighton Sanders, 39, has been nominated for the 2014 Wales Care Awards – the Oscars of the industry organised by Care Forum Wales – for his work with people living at home with spinal injuries.

He works in domiciliary care for Aberdare-based Q Care Limited, and his manager Sarah Williams nominated him in the supported living or small group community living practitioner category.

The prestigious awards take place at Cardiff’s City Hall on October 24.

Leighton said: “I was in customer care services for most of my working life and it’s only the last few years I knew I wanted to change my career – and decided the care sector was something I would really like to do.

“I worked in the job centre at Pontypridd on the Job Seeker’s allowance and I also worked for a recruitment agency. All were office based.”

In 2006, he went travelling in Australia and New Zealand, before returning to Mountain Ash to work for a pharmaceutical company in customer care.

He then found a Kent-based company which wanted someone to help care for spinal injury victims, staying with them and living in their own homes.

Leighton added: “I was thrown in the deep end because you were supposed to stay for two weeks and then hand over to another carer, but the relief carer was sick and I ended up staying the month.

“But I enjoyed it – it was an intense 12-month experience but it gave me an insight into the care sector.

“I loved care work but I knew I wanted something a bit different and that’s why I went into domiciliary care.”

In 2012, Leighton joined Q Care as a support worker and he also assists with the training of new staff.

Q Care provides personal, domestic and health care in the home environment, along with social companionship.

Leighton added: “My clients are my job. I care for mainly elderly people. You go into their homes and you have to build up a rapport and trust to make them comfortable.

“I help with personal care, from meal preparation to toileting.

“It can be very, very demanding, each call can be different, you don’t know what you will find.

“I suppose I have come into this role late in life but I really enjoy being a carer. I was absolutely amazed to be nominated [for the award].”

Sarah added: “As a support worker, Leighton’s main role is to support and assist the individuals who require our services with everyday tasks and needs, enabling them to remain living at home safely and independently.

“Nothing is too much trouble for him and he often goes above and beyond for the individuals he supports and his colleagues.”

Speaking about the care awards, Mario Kreft, chairman of Care Forum Wales, added: “The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.

“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.”