Home Instead Norwich Wins Innovation in Social Care Award for Transforming Care Training
Home Instead Norwich wins the Innovation in Social Care Award from Norfolk Care Association for its creative training approach using ‘Betty’ the mannequin & hands-on learning.
At Home Instead Norwich, we believe the best ideas often begin with listening. When feedback from our Care Professionals revealed that new team members wanted more confidence before supporting clients, we knew change was needed. What started as a small training idea grew into an award-winning innovation, and we’re thrilled to share that our work has now been recognised with the Innovation in Social Care Award from Norfolk Care Association (NorCA).
Listening Leads to Innovation
Every year, we use feedback from our clients and Care Professionals to improve how we work. Our annualPEAQsurveys highlighted that new Care Professionals, many joining from other industries, felt nervous when first supporting clients with personal care. This affected both their confidence and first impressions with clients.
To address this, we decided to create a training environment where Care Professionals could practise safely before meeting clients. That’s when Betty joined the team.
Meet Betty – Our Training Mannequin
Betty is a lifelike training mannequin, introduced into our mock home flat to create realistic care scenarios. She enables Care Professionals to rehearse every part of a care visit, from greetings to goodbyes, in a supportive environment.
Here, mistakes become learning opportunities, and questions are encouraged. Using Betty, Care Professionals can build skills in manual handling, dementia care, personal care, stoma management, and pressure area care – all before working with real clients. This approach bridges the gap between classroom theory and practical confidence, ensuring clients receive the very best support from day one.
Hands-On Learning That Inspires Confidence
Betty isn’t the only innovation shaping our training. We also introduced Ready, Steady, Cook sessions, where Care Professionals prepare meals that are both nutritious and beautifully presented. What began as a fun exercise during Nutrition & Hydration Week has become a core part of our induction. Every new Care Professional now prepares a plate of food for Betty, reinforcing food safety, presentation, and the importance of mealtime wellbeing.
We’ve also explored creative learning through mocktail making, dysphagia awareness, and hydration activities, turning essential skills into enjoyable, memorable experiences.
Collaboration and Community Impact
These ideas have not only improved confidence and care standards but also strengthened collaboration across health and social care. By allowing nurses and healthcare professionals to deliver in-office training with Betty, we’ve reduced pressures on clinical teams and made advanced care training more accessible.
Our Care Professional Experience Lead, Rebecca, also joined the Innovators Panel at NorCA’s Celebrating Our Sector: Innovation, Collaboration and the Future of Social Care event to share our journey and insights with other leaders across Norfolk. Great job, Rebecca!
Proud to Be Recognised
Winning the Innovation in Social Care Award is a moment of real pride for our whole team. It celebrates not just Betty, but the creative, people-first culture that makes Home Instead Norwich unique. By listening to our team, trying new ideas, and learning together, we’ve transformed how Care Professionals are trained and supported, and ultimately, how clients experience care.
