Northamptonshire care home manager awarded MBE in 2026 New Year’s Honours for transformational contribution to nursing, care and community wellbeing
Sue Watson, home manager of Pytchley Court care home in Brixworth, Northampton, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List for services to adult social care. Sue’s MBE is recognition of her exceptional leadership, service, and impact across five decades in nursing, social care, and community development.
Sue’s award celebrates a career defined by compassion, innovation, and unwavering dedication. Beginning her nursing journey in 1976, Sue has worked across acute, mental health, geriatric and prison nursing, including internationally in the Middle East. Since joining Pytchley Court in 2018, she has led a remarkable transformation of the service, taking the home from a Care Quality Commission rating of “inadequate” to “outstanding” within just six years. Under her leadership, the home has become a model of holistic, recovery-focused care, and is now engaged in research with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Nationally recognised for her expertise in dementia care, Sue has been a finalist in both the 2024 and 2025 Dementia Care Awards. Her approach centres on dignity, purpose and meaningful connection, demonstrated through the deeply personalised experiences she creates for residents, ranging from arranging a fishing trip for a former angler to reuniting a long-separated couple. Her philosophy of “walking alongside” residents has enriched countless lives.
Sue is also a widely respected mentor and educator. She leads a preceptorship programme, supports nurses and learners across Northamptonshire, and has strengthened partnerships with local universities, particularly in promoting placements for paramedic, dietetic and allied health students. She also welcomes and develops volunteers from diverse backgrounds, embedding them in purposeful, rewarding roles.
Her commitment to community extends far beyond her professional responsibilities. Sue runs a local memory café, organises inclusive community events, championing improved access to services and tackling rural isolation. Through employing and developing local people, she has contributed significantly to social inclusion and economic opportunity in the area.
Sue Watson MBE, Home Manager at HC-One’s Pytchley Court Care Home, said: “I am deeply honoured and so humbled to receive an MBE. This recognition reflects the dedication of the wonderful teams, residents, families and communities I’ve had the privilege to work alongside throughout my career. Caring for others has always been my purpose, and I’m grateful every day for the chance to make a difference. This award inspires me to continue championing compassionate, person-centred care wherever I can.”
Anna Selby OBE, Executive Director of Quality at HC-One, said: “Sue exemplifies the very best of social care. Her decades of service, her ability to transform lives and services, and her unwavering focus on dignity, respect and community are truly inspirational. We are immensely proud to see her receive this well-deserved national honour.”