2020 Carer of the Year Awards: Fourth Year Running! | Care Home, Hitchin

Congratulations to Gillian and Stella, our new carers of the year!

In our eyes, each and every one of our carers is a hero; but each year, we reward someone who has done something particularly remarkable.

This started 4 years ago when one of our residents, Dorothy, passed away and her son wanted to leave a legacy here, in her name, to commend all of the hard work of those who work within the care industry. He very kindly donated a shield, which we engrave with names each year.

And, so, we have carried on with our ‘Carer of the Year Awards’ ever since. This year, two of our wonderful carers have been rewarded for going above the call of duty during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now in its fourth year, our awards evening began with each and every person being commended for their efforts, during what’s been a difficult year for the care industry.

This included members of every team, including care, catering, maintenance, activities, management, front of house, and housekeeping. We closed the ceremony with a wonderful firework display.

Gillian said: “When I heard my name announced I was completely stunned, it was so totally unexpected. It was amazing to hear Stella’s name mentioned too as we both started working at Foxholes within two weeks of each other.

“To go to work every day doing something you’re passionate about and love doing doesn’t feel like work. The residents at Foxholes are all like extended family members, and that in itself is a huge reward.”

Stella said: “I was surprised and very overwhelmed to receive the award. It’s an honour to be recognised as part of the team. I hadn’t worked in care before coming to Foxholes and I don’t believe I could have asked for a better place.

“I feel supported by the management and love coming to work to see the residents and be a part of their lives. If I can help make a positive difference to someone’s life, then I feel fulfilled and that is my drive every day.”

Both Gillian and Stella are wonderful members of our care team who go above and beyond for our residents, and we would like to express our gratitude for their amazing hard work. They’ve built strong, meaningful relationships with staff and residents alike, and not only do their jobs with smiles on their faces, but keep others smiling too.

At Foxholes, we’re still pursuing our history hunt to uncover the depths of Foxholes’ fruitful past. If you think you can help us gather the remaining pieces of the puzzle, please do let us know. Do take a look at our previous post to see what we’ve already discovered!