Caring is a career that adds-up

Working as an accountant based in an office full-time prompted a career and lifestyle change for a Norfolk carer who is marking a decade in her role.

Karen Harris swapped numbers for people once her children had left home and she decided to have a complete change of life and become a carer with Norfolk home care company Extra Hands.

Ten years on and Karen, of Bintree, has no regrets about making the swap and certainly has no plans to change career again.

“When I was an accountant, I can’t tell you how many families I saw arguing over money - even £50. I told my children I would rather burn the money than fall out over any of it. Yes, I could earn more but it’s not about the money.

“I have met so many lovely people. There was a man who was wealthy and he asked what he could do to help his wife get better - the answer was nothing. Money is not what’s important,” she said.

Now working 21 hours a week, based at the company’s Horsham St Faith office, Karen works mostly around the North Norfolk coast and says it’s a beautiful part of the world.

“I have got to know every little backroad for miles. You need to, specially in the summer when there is more traffic. I set my Satnav and sing loudly all the way,” she said.

With two children and five grandchildren living locally to her, Karen said she makes sure she takes every seventh week off work.

“Mind you, for the first couple of days I am fine and after that I can get bored. I couldn’t stop working, I would be so bored.”

She said that at one point Extra Hands offered her the chance to apply for an administrative role which would have been office-based, but her previous time in an office job meant she never wanted to return.

“I love what I do and you see that it makes a real difference. You never really know what’s coming, and it is lovely that you are welcomed in and that person is smiling when you leave. It’s a great job.

“I recently lost my mum and I am the only remaining member of my family now, and being a carer has helped in this situation. Being a carer means you see all sorts of people, and I get to see a beautiful part of the world too.”

Family run Extra Hands also has offices in Heacham and offers a range of home care services across the county.