Relocation sees carer hit five year milestone

With more than 30 years spent in the caring industry, Lorraine Childerley had no other career in mind when she relocated to Norfolk.

As soon as she took the decision to leave Clacton,  Essex, and head to a new county she secured a role with Extra Hands and now works from their Broadland office.

“I have always worked in care and had worked for Essex County Council for many years,” she said.

Moving to Norfolk with a job secured meant Lorraine had her new life sorted, and she has continued working with Extra Hands and is now celebrating her five year anniversary.

“They have been really good, I’m not looking to go anywhere else,” she said.

Lorraine had the chance to tell listeners of BBC Radio Norfolk about her work when she was interviewed by presenter Chris Goreham after she received one of Extra Hands' coveted Going the Extra Mile Awards.

She had been nominated  by service users to receive the award and had only been working in Norfolk for two years. 

During the pandemic, Lorraine continued with her role amid the upheaval of the time, but she said carers were having to reassure service users because they needed protecting but also not scaring.

“You were bringing in a bit of the outside world in through conversation, but you also had to protect them,” she said at the time.

Outside of work Lorraine, who lives in Beeston Regis with her terrier called George,  volunteers with Sheringham’s popular Little Theatre where she works in the bar.