Hayley
Handley-Hicks joined our team at Extra Hands less than a year ago, but
has already won an award for her calm and efficient manner.
She
has been nominated for a GEM award, which Extra Hands launched as an
opportunity for service users and their families to nominate their
favourite carers and recognise their hard work, for helping a service
user after he had a fall.
Hayley,
who lives in West Lynn, took on her role in March last year after
previously working in residential care and caring for a family member.
The
36-year-old, who works from our Heacham office, said she made the
switch to care at home as it offered a more ‘person centred’ approach.
“It
is about establishing their routine and their regularities, what makes
them comfortable - they are in their own home,” she said
“It’s keeping them independent with you there to support them, in the way that they want you to.
“It’s definitely focused on the individual, the person you are looking after, which is how I really like it.”
The
nomination was submitted by a service user to Extra Hands, who told how
he had been trying to put socks on when he slipped from his chair to
the floor, knocking over a table on the way.
Unfortunately he could not reach help through an alarm unit upstairs and his family members were unable to answer calls.
He
said: “I was laying on the floor unable to get up, thankfully my carer
Hayley arrived and surveyed the chaos before making sure I was unhurt
and lifting me onto my chair, saying rest while I sort this out which
won’t take me long.
“I
was very impressed, I had never been so pleased to see someone who had
quickly assessed the situation and calmly and efficiently sorted my mess
out, for which I was most grateful and which reflected well on your
organisation.”
Hayley said had not been expecting the award and was shocked to receive the recognition.
She said: “It’s about doing those little thing that makes people feel better.
“It
is you turning up to a call with one of your regulars and they are
relieved that it is you - they are confident that you know what you are
doing and what they like.
“It is rewarding when they say ‘I am so glad you are here’.”
The
GEM award winner from our Broadland office was Kate Davis, who was
nominated for being “cheerful, friendly and approachable”.
Nominations for the next awards can be sent to Extra Hands by email to: contact@extrahands.net
Or
by post to: Extra Hands, Units 13/14 Heacham Hall Industrial Estate,
Heacham PE31 7JT (01485 570611) or Unit A10 Abbey Farm Commercial Park,
Southwell Road, Horsham St Faith, Norwich NR10 3JU (01603 898623)
Nominations can be made by a service user, a family member, staff or someone who notices the extra effort being made.
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