We hope you had a lovely easter and are enjoying the nice weather, finally…
This month we celebrate fair futures for our care assistants, following your pay increase, we are putting together a campaign to help spread awareness about the negative connotation on the care industry. How its perceived as low paying and tiring, we want to to put a positive light back on it, showing how its rewarding, enlightening and you are paid fairly.
We hope you enjoy Aprils newsletter and support our latest campaign…
Dear Team,
As we welcome the vibrant spring of April 2024, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have embarked upon together. This month’s newsletter, rich with updates and stories from our Bluebird Care family, is a testament to the resilience, dedication, and compassion that each of you embodies.
The essence of care is not found in tasks completed but in the warmth of a shared smile, the comfort of a hand held, and the peace of mind we provide to those we serve. Our mission goes beyond care; it’s about creating a community where every individual feels valued, supported, and respected.
This month, we celebrate not just the growth of our team with new members joining us but the personal and professional strides each of you has made. From the pay increases to the launch of our campaign to reshape the perception of the care industry, every step we take is towards ensuring that our care assistants feel appreciated and acknowledged for their invaluable work.
As your Director, I am deeply committed to fostering an environment where growth is not just encouraged but actively pursued. The introduction of the Care Workforce Pathway and the Care Certificate represents our dedication to professional development and the elevation of care as a noble and rewarding career.
I encourage you to engage with the contents of this newsletter, from the updates on training and compliance to the exciting marketing initiatives that lie ahead. Your feedback, stories, and participation are the lifeblood of our organisation, driving us forward to achieve excellence in everything we do.
Together, let’s continue to break barriers, build bridges, and bring light to the lives of those we care for. Here’s to another month of growth, challenges overcome, and successes to celebrate.
Thank you for your hard work, your passion, and your commitment to Bluebird Care. Here’s to moving forward, together.
David
A big thank you to all carers who have received appreciation this month for their outsanding efforts. Its one thing providing care but its another going above and beyond, Well Done!
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We are advising all staff and carers to take up their autumn COVID-19 and flu vaccination. Eligible individuals can book and manage their vaccinations appointment online. You can follow the links below to book yours.
Book,cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Book or manage a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
We require information on all staff’s vaccination status as this required by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from CQC-regulated ASC providers.
When you have had these vaccinations can you please inform Karolina, via email on Karolinapb@bluebirdcare.co.uk ASAP
We also need to know if you do not wish to not have either of these vaccinations.
We thank you yet again for your continued support and engagement.
Take advantage of our £150 refer a friend fee!
Can you think of anyone who is kind, caring and compassionate? Can you think of anyone who would like a career in care? Can you think of anyone who would be an asset to our team?
Well, this could be your opportunity to take advantage of our refer a friend programme. If you refer someone into the business and they receive a job offer and successfully pass probation you will receive your £150 refer a friend payment!
Anyone who you think is up to the job can apply via our company website, when they complete the application form it asks if they know anyone who works at Bluebird, this is there time to state this!
https://www.bluebirdcarecareers.co.uk/locations/newcastle
https://www.bluebirdcarecareers.co.uk/locations/south-tyneside
https://www.bluebirdcarecareers.co.uk/locations/darlington-south-durham-and-yarm
It is vitally important that all staff remain compliant, especially with regards training. We are a heavily regulated industry where it is a requirement of our commissioners and inspecting bodies that everyone is correctly trained. As you know, when your e-learning is three months from expiry, Liz will start to contact you. Please look at when you can book in time to complete your e-learning and let Liz know. You should all have received information about when your face-to-face mandatory training is by now. It is crucial that you attend this session as they are only booked in monthly in the office. Missing your planned session will mean your training may expire and that might result in you being removed from the rota until you are compliant.
We mentioned in a previous newsletter that we told you about the Department of Health and Social Care announcement of a package of measures to elevate the true value, variety and career potential of Social Care.
For the first time, there will be a national care career structure, the Care Workforce Pathway, with clearly defined roles and routes to professional development, underpinned with quality training and opportunities to discover the rewarding reality of the care sector first hand. The care workforce pathway is a new career structure for the adult social care workforce. This is the first phase of the pathway, focusing on direct care roles at 4 levels. More information on the pathway can be found here: Care workforce pathway for adult social care: overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
A new, accredited qualification, the Care Certificate, is also being introduced to further recognise and validate the work done by 37,000 colleagues. It is a benchmark standard, giving peace of mind to residents, families and care providers that people with the right skill set and values are joining the profession. This new qualification is portable, ending the need to waste time and resources retraining for skills already demonstrated in previous roles.
There will also be funding for hundreds of apprenticeships and digital training places so that new and existing care colleagues can keep pace with – and make use of – the latest digital and technological innovations in social care
This robust package of reforms has been developed in close partnership with Skills for Care, Think Local Act Personal, the wise counsel of Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults and her network of principal social workers, care colleagues, those with lived experience and the wider sector.
The overall aim, from the outset, has been to provide better training, clearer career paths and improved job prospects for the domestic care workforce. More importantly, it’s about attracting, nurturing and retaining great colleagues with the experience and expertise to deliver truly transformative care and support to those who need it most.
4.59 Second-hand smoke can cause lung cancer and heart disease in non-smokers, as well as many other illnesses, minor conditions and discomfort. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to provide a working environment for employees that is: “Safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.”
4.60 Bluebird Care South Tyneside, Newcastle, Darlington & York acknowledges that second-hand smoke is a public health hazard. This workplace smoking policy seeks to guarantee non-smokers the right to work in air free of tobacco smoke, whilst also taking into account, the needs of those who smoke.
4.61 Smoking is not permitted in any common access areas, regardless of whether they are accessed by employees only, public only, or both. Visitors, temporary staff, sub-contractors and out of hours workers such as cleaners are expected to abide by the terms of this policy.
4.62 Please note that in line with best practice in this policy also relates to “Vaping”.
4.63 Bluebird Care South Tyneside, Newcastle, Darlington & York is aware that it is also illegal to smoke in company cars that are used by more than one person.
Since 1 July 2007, smoking is not permitted within any enclosed or partially enclosed workplace in the UK. Employers are not allowed to create separate smoking areas inside a building for smokers.
This smoking ban includes work-provided vehicles used by more than one person even if they use the vehicle at different times.
Little known fact, for those who work from home, any portion of the dwelling principally used for business must be smoke-free if another person works in the space or members of the public visit the workspace to receive or deliver goods or services. This includes the customer’s home. Out customer’s cannot smoke whilst the carers are there, even if the carer is a smoker. Equally the carers can’t smoke in a customer’s home, even if the customer smokes.
– Manufactured or hand-rolled cigarettes
– Pipes including water pipes, shisha, and hookah pipes
– Cigars
– Herbal cigarette
Vaping, as such, is not covered under the rules applied to smoking since nothing technically burns, however, electronic cigarettes do release nicotine and (often) odours in the vapour, therefore we do not allow the use of electronic cigarettes in the workplace.
Failure to follow or enforce workplace smoking laws are criminal offences. These offences apply to anyone who smokes (even if not inhaling), managers who don’t enforce smoking rules, or failure to post the appropriate signage. Workers can be fined up to £200 and employers can be fined up to £2,500.
Bluebird Care proudly stands alongside the Young Adult Carers within our team and the broader community, echoing this years theme of “Fair Futures for Young Adult Carers.” At Bluebird Care, we recognise the indispensable role that Young Adult Carers play in the care industry and are committed to creating an environment that not only values their contributions but also provides a platform for their personal and professional growth.
We are taking the next steps at Bluebird Care to make sure our valued Care Assistants have a fair future in the realm of care… We understand the care industry is taboo and can have a negative connotation, but we want to remove the stereotype and show how well appreciated our care assistants are.
This campaign is shining light on our hardworking and compassionate care assistants and showing that we take measures in making sure they are appreciated.
Keep an eye out and get sharing ! 👀
We hope this message finds you well! We’re thrilled to announce an exciting new initiative that we believe will not only showcase the incredible work you do but also help inspire and connect with our community in a whole new way.
Introducing our latest marketing project: a series of videos highlighting the stories, experiences, and invaluable contributions of our dedicated care assistants. This project aims to shed light on the meaningful relationships you build with our customers, the challenges you overcome with compassion and professionalism, and the joy you bring to those you care for each day.
We’re reaching out to you, our amazing care assistants, because we believe that your voices deserve to be heard. Your insights, anecdotes, and reflections can offer a glimpse into the heart and soul of Bluebird Care, showcasing the passion and dedication that drive everything we do.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Share Your Story: We invite you to share your experiences as a care assistant at Bluebird Care. Whether it’s a memorable moment with a client, a personal journey of growth and learning, or a message of encouragement for your fellow caregivers, your story matters.
Participate in Interviews: We’ll be conducting video interviews with care assistants who are willing to share their perspectives on the rewards and challenges of caregiving. This is an opportunity to speak from the heart and connect with our audience on a deeper level.
Spread the Word: Even if you choose not to participate directly, you can still support this project by spreading the word and encouraging your colleagues to get involved. Together, we can make this project a success and amplify the voices of our care assistants.
If you’re interested in participating or have any questions about the project, please reach out to our Digital Marketing Executive Erin Kilford at erinkilford@bluebirdcare.co.uk.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your story and contribute to our community in a meaningful way. We can’t wait to hear from you and bring your stories to life through this video project!
Previously there has only been one national Trustpilot account for Bluebird Care. This caused problems when gaining a true reflection from branch to branch. However, the Trustpilot account has now been split up and we all have access to our own location profile, enabling us to have our own local Trustpilot score, which feeds into the overall national score.
This is a massive opportunity to let our Bluebird Care branches shine! Leave us a 5-star review by following the links below.
Currently, we’re evaluating our review approach and going forward, we advocate increased engagement in our surveys. Reviews play a crucial role in enhancing a business, and we’re convinced that the feedback we gather will push our company’s growth. Please help us raise our engagement in these surveys and actively take part when we send them out, this is essential for us to gain relative timely feedback.
We’re prioritising our Net Promotor Score, a metric determining the likelihood of someone recommending us. Your participation is essential for us to effectively implement this initiative.
How likely are you to recommend Bluebird Care as a place of work for your family and friends? – Let us know below!!
We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates with you all! As you may have already heard, we are relaunching our live-in care service line. This relaunch not only symbolises growth but also highlights our commitment to providing exceptional care services to our customers and their families.
Why is this relaunch such a big deal? Well, our service line is one of the main pillars of our business, and it plays a crucial role in fulfilling our the needs of our customers.
Enhanced Quality of Care: Our service line relaunch is focused on enhancing the quality of care we deliver to our customers. Through rigorous training, updated protocols, and innovative approaches, we are able to actively take on new live-in care customers.
Expanded Services: With this relaunch, we’re expanding our service offerings to better meet the diverse needs of our customers. Whether it’s home care, respite care, dementia care, or companionship services, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support that enables our customers to live comfortably and independently in their own homes for longer.
Person-centered Approach: We understand that every individual has unique needs and preferences. That’s why our service line relaunch emphasizes a client-centered approach, ensuring that each client receives personalized care tailored to their specific requirements.
Professional Development Opportunities: As we relaunch our service line, we’re also investing in the professional development of our staff. Through ongoing training programs, mentorship initiatives, and career advancement opportunities, we are empowering our caregivers to excel in their roles and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our clients.
Community Engagement: Our service line relaunch is not just about delivering care; it’s about building stronger connections within the communities we serve. We’re committed to actively engaging with local organizations, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to foster collaboration and promote health and well-being for all.
As we embark on this exciting journey of relaunching our service line, we want to express our gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our clients. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of care and make a positive impact in the lives of those we serve.
We are pleased to announce that Victoria Gardner will be stepping into the role of Acting Deputy Manager effective immediately.
Victoria has been an integral part of our team, bringing dedication, professionalism, and a wealth of experience to her position as Health and Social Care Trainer. In her role as Acting Deputy, Victoria will assume responsibilities related to overseeing customer and care assistance compliance, conducting spot checks, supervising staff, and managing customer care. Her extensive knowledge of our organisation and commitment to excellence make her an excellent fit for this role.
Please join us in congratulating Victoria on her appointment. We have full confidence in her ability to excel in the role and support our team in delivering the highest standard of care to our customers.
If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this transition, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Let’s extend our full support to Victoria as she takes on this role.
We’re incredibly proud to announce that members of our team in South Tyneside, Louise, Chantelle, Abby and Marius are lacing up their running shoes for a remarkable cause! They’re gearing up to tackle the Great North Run, all in the spirit of raising vital funds for a charity close to one of our cherished customers. Their dedication and commitment to supporting those in need truly embody our company’s values of compassion and community engagement. Let’s rally behind them and show our full support as they take on this incredible challenge. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Read more and donate by following the link below!
Welcome to this month’s newsletter and updates. This past four weeks has again seen changes to the Operations team with Paige M (deputy manager) and Nicola (care coordinator) both leaving us as they felt the role was not for them. We wish them well for the future but can welcome Courtney as Nicola’s successor. Courtney brings us great experience in the care filed and a wonderfully positive personality. I’m sure you will welcome her to the team. Courtney is committed to our long-term strategy so we’re confident she will be with us for the long term. Victoria, who you will all know as our Health and Social Care trainer has steeped into take over Paige’s caseload, so expect to see her acting as Deputy manager for the foreseeable future. Again, Vicky is a welcome support and addition to the team.
I would like to move onto how we wish to continue our development and improvements as a service and as a team. Part of this is that we want to encourage you all to pick up the phone and tell us what you experience as a care assistant in the field. Not only that, but we want you to feel able to ask us for clarity when you hear something from your colleagues or customers that may be unsettling, or you are unsure about. These things can cause disruption and anxiety for people, and I would rather everyone felt able to pick up the telephone and ask for clarity directly from us, your management team. Good communication is everyone’s responsibility and we all must own that to ensure we are all on the same page.
As a team, we are striving to make improvements across the business and one such area is with recording, documenting, and completing the tasks and EMAR sign offs we do each day. Everyone knows the GOLDEN RULE of care – If it isn’t written down, it never happened!. We should all look to make sure we record the visits we carry out accurately, factually and without opinion. From arrival at your visit, you should document how you gained entry, how you found the customer, how they presented (were they positive or negative to your arrival), what you did and how you did it. A good way to remember this is –
WHEN – did it happen (date and time)?
WHERE – did it happen (where were you?)?
WHO – was involved (your colleagues, customers and visiting family perhaps)?
WHAT – did you do (what interventions and tasks were completed?)?
It is especially important that when dealing with Health care professionals such District nurses, GP’s and OT’s. Capturing their name, role and contact details can all help to make the delivery of care service that much more effective for our customers.
Going forward, can I ask that you all adopt the approach to hit these 4 “W”s when writing your notes to ensure we capture all we need to from your calls. This information not only keeps you safe should there ever be any issues or concerns reported about your call, but it can also help health care professionals back track to see if and when changes to a customer’s presentation or health occurred, assisting them to diagnose and treat people better. Part of the recording process is the completion and sign off of EMARs and digital tasks. These again are of vital importance as they show what has been done during the call, what medication has been administered and will help with any issues, investigations or reviews your customer may need. A bad habit to have is to sign these tasks and events off without proper consideration. Unfortunately, we have seen examples of the carer signing off a task that clearly has not been done correctly or at all. Please understand, by doing this, you leave yourself and your customer vulnerable if you are not 100% certain that the job has been done to the right standard and the sign off is accurate. If you need any help or support with this part of your role, then please reach out to your managers who will gladly help you.
Finally, I would like to remind you that we have incentives for recruitment and can offer incentives that benefit both you as the referrer and to the proposed candidate. If you know anyone who might like to join the Bluebird team, we have roles in Domiciliary Care, End of Life Care, Live in Care and Complex Care customers. For further details, you can call the office.
Thank you for your continued support and hard work and have a great day.
Hi Team, Please read for an update on current activities.
I am pleased to welcome our new customer Mary Hemmingway – Mary comes to us for support with her meal preparation and companionship. Mary enjoys watching TV and had a keen interest in books and crafts.
I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to the newest additions to the team,
Jasmine Morrell and Daisy Young. We are excited to embrace Jasmine and Daisy who both bring with them 2 years’ or more experience in the field of care, Their innovative ideas, positive attitude and passion for the role will help us continue to improve and grow our service ensuring the continued delivery of premium care. I have every confidence that Jasmine & Daisy will make significant contributions to our goals. We are very excited to work with you both. Welcome to the team!
At Bluebird care we encourage and welcome improvement and progression so if there is anyone who would like to complete any additional training such as NVQ or first aid at work, peg training etc please come in and have a chat with the office or alternatively highlight this during your supervision and we can contact our training team to organise.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff, the last month has been extremely busy, and everyone has clubbed together to support us. This means our customers can continue to receive care and staff can have hard earned holidays.
– We value your input and encourage you to share any feedback or suggestions you may have. Feel free to reach out to me directly or utilize the suggestion box located in the break room.
– Following an audit we have noted there continues to be outstanding E-Learning, Please ensure this is completed before the 15th April 2024.
I am very pleased to confirm we have had no leavers since the last memo lets all look after each other out there to ensure everyone feels supported, and please remember if you need anything feel free to come into the office at any time.
Thank you for reading. Let’s continue working together to achieve our goals and maintain a positive and productive work environment. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or the senior team.
Kind regards,
Laura and the Office Team
The care industry often comes with numerous challenges, making it a constant uphill battle for employers like us. One of the primary struggles is finding qualified candidates that are fit for the role. The demand for care services is consistently high, driven by an aging population and increased need for home care support. This is why we are taking a stand to provide a fair future for our care assistants, so they can be paid for their efforts.
There is an ongoing stereotype within the care Industry, that workers are underpaid, overworked, and emotionally drained. Luckily at Bluebird Care we have a fair and person-centred approach to our Care Assistants, so they are paid for their hard work and efforts.
The job title ‘Care Worker’ has a perception across the media, the public and the misinformed of being a low skilled job, with very little importance. This cannot be further from the truth, it plays a vital and critical role in society and without the dedication of these people, there would be a national crisis
We understand that working in care is not always smooth sailing and constant so we therefore we are taking a stand to provide a fairer and more valued future.
We are providing a pay rise for our care assistants so that they are paid for their time and efforts. This is so we can pay our carers for their outstanding hard work and for going above and beyond. We, at Bluebird Care believe our carers are the frontline of the business, constantly making our customers smile, and this calls for a reward.
Our customers are the reason our care assistants can be paid for their outstanding efforts…
With emphasis on providing a fair future for our care assistants, we make sure that it is a two-way street. We give back to our care assistants, but this comes with a few requirements.
We want our carers to…
– Have the correct values to be a care assistant, this means to be kind, compassionate and to go above and beyond for our customer
– Have a wide skill set and be willing to learn, and on go further training if offered
– Have a relevant qualification or experience in the field of care
– Have a desire to grow and learn, as we offer career development opportunities
Having the correct values and dedication allows our carers to provide the outstanding care we are known for.
Overall, we believe that offering a pay rise to our care assistants shows our commitment to ensuring they are valued.
We are taking a stand to ensure our care assistants have a fair future, follow our social media channels and share around, take a stand with us…
It only takes a few minutes and we’d be extremely grateful for your help! It helps increase brand awareness and strengthen our online presence so we are able to attract more customers and great like minded staff into the business.
Just click the buttons below to go to our Google Business pages or Facebook pages and leave us some great feedback.
Review from Debbie S (Care Assistant)