At
Extra Hands our dedicated team go above and beyond to deliver the
highest quality care - whether they have been with us for years or
joined us more recently.
This
is shown by the winners of our latest GEM awards, which stands for
Going the Extra Mile, and gives service users the opportunity to thank
their favourite carers.
Hayley
Handley-Hicks, who works from our Heacham office, joined the team at
Extra Hands less than a year ago, but has already won an award for her
calm and efficient manner.
The
winner from our Broadland office Kate Davis, has worked with us for
nine years and was nominated for being “cheerful, friendly and
approachable”.
Hayley’s
name was put forward by a service user, 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 took on her role in March last year after previously working in residential care and caring for a family member.
The 36-year-old said she made the switch to care at home as it offered a more ‘person centred’ approach.
She said: “It’s about doing those little things that make people feel better.
“It
is you turning up to a call with one of your regulars and them being
relieved that it is you, that you know what you are doing and what they
like.
“It is rewarding when they say ‘I am so glad you are here’.”
For
Kate, the reward of her job as a carer is being able to ‘put a smile on
people’s faces’ - especially at times like Christmas Day.
Her
nomination came from the daughter of a service user, who wrote: “She is
very much in tune with mum’s needs regarding her dementia and has no
problems dealing with mum, despite mum being stubborn and difficult
sometimes.
“Occasionally
mum has days when she does not want to get out of bed. It can be
difficult to persuade her despite lots of encouragement.
“But
when this happened recently at one of Kate’s morning calls she
persevered with mum, took her breakfast in bed and this gentle, calm
approach eventually led to Mum
agreeing to get up, washed and dressed.
“An amazing turn around from the stubborn attitude Kate was initially faced with.”
Kate, 41, who has been a carer since she left school, said she was “shocked and pleased” to have won the GEM award.
She said: “I was really shocked when I got told and really pleased about it as well.
“I have worked in care for a long time and I love caring for people, I love making a difference to their life.
“Some people don’t see anyone from day to day apart from the carers and it is nice to be able to help them.
“It
is a lovely feeling to know you have put a smile on someone’s face and
you have helped them with their daily living and made a difference to
their life.
“It is very rewarding, I love it.”
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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