Outstanding carers recognised
- By Elaine Bird
- 13 December 2019
- Heacham
- Share:

Carers who work for a Heacham-based home care company were honoured at a special celebration event at Fakenham Race Course on Wednesday 11 December.
A total of 90 Extra Hands staff members were nominated for the prestigious Gill Chase Award - an annual event to thank carers who have been nominated by their service users and their families for their outstanding work.
The Gill Chase Award was started five years ago in memory of a long-standing Extra Hands carer who died suddenly in 2014 aged 68, and this year, out of the 90 nominations, eight were shortlisted, including Heacham resident Susan Bloy. The winner Stella Cason, from King's Lynn, was announced following an afternoon tea at the famous race course.
Susan's nominations said that nothing was too much trouble for her before adding: "She is always cheerful, smiling and would do anything for you. She has a very kind heart and is always attentive. She has great knowledge of care."
Speaking during the award ceremony, Anita Walter, Public Relations and Marketing Director at Extra Hands, said: "This was the fifth year now that we have hosted this award ceremony recognising the fantastic work that our carers do across our organisations. It is wonderful that people are embracing the award and taking the time to continue to submit nominations.
"The judging took place in November with a panel consisting of our two Registered Managers and our Training Manager and what a difficult task they had going through 90 nominations - the most we've ever had recognising the commitment and dedication of our staff members across the organisation.
"From these 90 nominations, we picked eight shortlisted names, four from each office, and we selected a finalist from each office, and Stella was named the overall winner."
Extra Hands' Heacham office was rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission earlier this year.. The company was also the first in the county to offer well-being checks to help reassure families and friends who can’t always be available to help.