Life-long carer thrives on new challenge and returns in style

After almost two years working in palliative care, a life-long carer has joined the Rapid Response Team at Extra Hands and almost immediately won a company award.

Although the role is new for Sharon Newman, it’s her second time at Extra Hands, a family-run firm that provides bespoke home-care packages across Norfolk.

The 54-year-old worked for the company before her stint in palliative care, and she decided to return as her time had been so positive. And no sooner was she back than she won a GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award.

She was nominated by a colleague who said: “Sharon has recently changed roles and has proven to be a very conscientious member of staff. She is always happy to support staff both in the office and out in the community. She has also helped with extra shifts when she can and she is a welcome addition to the office staff.”

Sharon said she was delighted to win her award - it’s the second time as she was also a GEM in 2021.

“When I left Extra Hands, I felt I’d come to a dead end and I wanted to experience more,” she explained. “They said they were sorry to lose me and anytime I wanted to go back, to give them a call.

“I was working in the community doing palliative care, and I did love the job, but I was constantly working all the time, doing 12 or 13-hour shifts every day, and I found it quite tiring. I wanted to find a better work-life balance, so I decided to come back to Extra Hands.”

“They’re a lovely set of people to work for, and I’ve now got the Rapid Response job, which is a totally different role again,” she continued. “You go out, you do first visits, you put care packages together – it’s a lot more involved. 

“I love being out and about and thrive on change. It’s a lot more varied, and that suits me much better. No day is the same, and I like that variety.

“You might plan to go out on a first visit, but then get a call saying someone is off sick and can you cover their visits. It can change at the last minute, but that’s all part of the role, and good if you like doing a little bit of everything.

“It’s a busy role, but I’m one of those people that thrives on that – I do like to be kept busy.”

With two ponies, Billy and Annie, donkey Eeyore and Jack Russell Sally, Miss Newman has no time for any other hobbies and spends as much time with her animals as she can.

Living in Warham and working from the company’s Heacham office, Miss Newman first took up care work when her son started school, and comes from a family of carers.

“My mum has also been in care work and my aunt is a nurse,” she said. “When we were children, my mum would drag us along to events at the care home, so we grew up knowing what care work was like.”

“I’ve worked in care all my life, more or less,” she added. “Extra Hands is brilliant. It’s just a nice place to work. You don’t feel like a number, you feel part of a team. It’s very much a family firm, and you don’t get many companies like that nowadays.

“It’s a lovely place to work and very supportive. You don’t realise until you move away and do something different, what good support they provide. They really go the extra mile.”

Extra Hands also has an office in Broadland, Horsham St Faith where the winner of the September GEM was Nina Tye.