Care certificates were handed out to the latest group of Health Care Assistants who completed their studies at Southend Hospital.

Director of Nursing, Denise Townsend, was on presenting duties.

The certificate recognises all the hard work care assistants do for patients at the hospital, in completing the 15 standards of the care certificate. It’s the minimum training, supervision and assessment that all health care workers now receive.

One of those collecting their certificate was Ben Quinn, who has been in the role since June 2017.

This is his first care role and previously the 20-year-old worked at Basildon Hospital doing maintenance.

He said: “It’s been a big career change for me; working in a hospital environment I saw what great work went on and wanted to get involved.”