A dedicated caregiver from Canterbury has received a major regional accolade for her unwavering compassion, calm leadership and extraordinary commitment to both her clients and colleagues.
An Award for Exceptional Dedication
Eliz Hussein, who works for the North Kent branch of in-home care provider Visiting Angels, was honoured with the title of Caregiver of the Year for the South East at the organisation's national conference. The award recognises the exceptional, day-to-day care she provides and the profound difference she makes to the lives of those she supports.
Eliz joined Visiting Angels earlier this year and has rapidly become an indispensable member of the North Kent care team. Her nomination highlighted her instinctive, hands-on approach during challenging situations.
Calm in a Crisis: Going Above and Beyond
One recent incident saw Eliz expertly manage a situation where a client was in significant medical distress and anxious about going to hospital. Darryl Lahner, Managing Director of Visiting Angels North Kent, praised her actions.
"She truly embodies everything we stand for at Visiting Angels," he said. "Just recently she had a client experiencing significant medical distress and helped reassure his daughter during a very difficult moment. Not only did she calm the situation, but she also drove them to the hospital, waited with them until he was admitted and ensured his daughter arrived home safely."
Eliz's dedication extends beyond emergencies. On another occasion, when a vulnerable client lost power overnight, she immediately advocated for her, arranged for an electrician, prepared a warm meal and stayed with her until family members arrived.
A Caring Heart and a Valued Team Member
"In such a short time, I can’t say enough about how much Eliz deserves this award," Darryl Lahner added. "She is the definition of a caring heart, and we are so fortunate to have her."
Reflecting on her win, Eliz emphasised the team ethos at Visiting Angels. "Everyone in my team – other carers, my managers – really care about each other and care about our clients. The support has just been overwhelming," she explained.
"I'm very proud to say that the award was a big milestone for me. I was so happy – it felt like a win not just for me, but for us as a team. I'm very happy to be part of my team and part of Visiting Angels in general."
The company's 'carer-centric' model aims to distinguish it within the home care sector. By ensuring caregivers feel valued and respected, and by offering financial rewards and career development opportunities, Visiting Angels seeks to tackle industry-wide issues of staff feeling underappreciated.
