Facetime queen Kirsten is hero for The Manor House

Healthcare Homes colleagues were delighted to get together at a company conference and awards last week to recognize staff and teams who work throughout our family of 48 homes and 11 homecare branches.

And whilst it was recognized that every health and social care employee is undoubtedly a hero, and every Healthcare Homes team was awarded an Inspirational Team of the Year Award, managers had also been asked to recommend individuals for the Hero Awards 2022.

Kirsten South was named as one of 24 individuals to receive a Hero Award. She is activity organizer at The Manor House in North Walsham, Norfolk,  – but to the team there, she is so much more than that.

Throughout the pandemic she has turned her hand to whatever role has needed cover. She has been the ‘Facetime queen’ ensuring that vital contact has been maintained between our residents and their families, this being their only contact for extended periods of time.

Her manager says ‘we had to maintain a positive attitude when Covid struck, and not sure panic or fear…Kirsten saw through my façade and I couldn’t have got through the very dark times without her support.’

Kirsten puts everyone before herself – even when she had to go into hospital, she continued to Facetime us from her hospital bed! She really is the life and soul of the Manor House and a true hero in every sense of the word.

Gordon Cochrane, chief executive officer, told the audience, “ I’m delighted to say that we were inundated with nominations for people that managers wanted to be recognized as absolute stars, the backbones of our homes and branches, the heroes we simply cannot do without and Kirsten is one of those heroes.”

Pip Rich