Posted on Monday 11th May 2020
Care workers across Staffordshire’s frontline will be in the spotlight this week as part of the County Council’s Coronavirus Hidden Heroes campaign.
The county council has been inundated with nominations from care homes, home care organisations and supported living settings on staff going the extra mile during the pandemic.
People just like Lee Phillips-Clarke a care worker and a foster carer. Lee, from Kidsgrove was a bus driver for 17 years, until after ferrying people to medical appointments every Saturday for a care company, he decided to ask them for a job.
Two years on and he is now a senior care worker at the Farmhouse Rest Home, Newcastle and he was nominated three times, including by manager Tammy Shepherd. Tammy said Lee always goes above and beyond at work, has been working long days during the pandemic and has even donated food supplies to the residents.
Lee said:
“After driving buses I just decided to move into a care role and I absolutely love it. The best bit about the work is definitely the residents. When you come into the home the faces of the residents really light up and they are as pleased to see me as I am to see them.
“I am totally surprised, but absolutely thrilled that people have taken the time to nominate me as one of Staffordshire’s Hidden Heroes.”
Over the coming week we will be shining the light on many more of our care heroes and you can find out more at #Hiddenheroes
Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Care and Wellbeing, said:
“Our army of carer workers are doing an amazing job in caring for the most vulnerable people during this pandemic.
“Without the compassion and dedication of people like Lee, life for many residents would simply be impossible, so I would like to thank all those who are working on our care frontline as they are without doubt our true heroes.”