We hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and had a Happy New Year. We hope this year is going to be a good one. With emphasis on recruiting more experienced Care Assistants, we ask you to keep doing what your doing, by providing premium, compassionate care!
– Paige Mulholland (Deputy Manager)
– Lyndsey Wilson (Care Assistant)
– Harriette Jobson (Care Supervisor)
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!
Fatou has been complimented for her hard work and oustanding care she has given to Mrs S.
“She has said what an amazing job Fatou has done with Mrs E and can’t believe the change in her and her feet since she started. She said she was really worried about Mrs E’s feet and how bad they were and now she is amazed at how good they are, and they have been really well looked after. She also said how lovely and kind Fatou is and the main thing she loves is that she makes it ‘all about Mrs E’ very person-centred care and is fantastic with her. ”
Our carers Abby and Marius with their customer Mr S!
They we’re congratulated for the outstanding care they give to Mr S…
Thank you both for going above and beyond!
Tracey has received a special gift from her lovely customer with a special message.
“To my wonderful friend”
Here at Bluebird Care Newcastle and South Tyneside, our carers aren’t just carers, they’re friends
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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
Inductions
Inductions will continue to be delivered throughout the year, focusing on ensuring our new staff become as highly skilled and person centred as the rest of the team. We are also offering current carers the opportunity to attend. The induction training has been updated and is virtually unrecognisable to the training, some of you may have attended, when you first joined the company. Therefore, we are encouraging anyone who feels they would benefit from a refresher to speak to their managers and book a space at your convenience.
Mandatory Training
This coming year the training team, will again be focusing on ensuring that allstaff members are compliant within their roles. To ensure that all staff remain up to date, we have scheduled the yearly Mandatory Training days, throughout the year, which you will all be invited to attend.
E-Learning
The E-Learning has been looked at by the franchise and we have been able to reduce the amount of E-Learning that is required. Also, some modules now do not need to be updated each year, some are now every 2 or 3 years, reducing the amount of time you will need to spend updating modules. It is a very important tool for continuous learning, supporting the knowledge and skills you already have and introducing new subjects, that you can digest at your own pace. So, grab a brew and any leftover mince pies and check that you are up to date with all your modules. Anyone requiring help and support are welcome to contact the training team and we will endeavour to support you in any way we can.
Observations and Competence Checks
Your Care Team Leads are busy completing the bi-monthly mandatory observations and supervisions, to ensure that we are all working within the policies and guidelines set out by the Law and the Bluebird Care franchise. However, it is also your time to shine, to show off your skills and the wonderful connections you have made with our customers. For compliance and competence, you will be observed administering (or assisting/prompting)medication, moving and positioning and following infection prevention and control regulations. Please ensure you always have a stock of gloves and aprons, that you adhere to hand hygiene guidelines, follow customers moving and handling plans and don’t pick up any bad habits. If we see bad practices being used, we need to engage some moral courage and speak up. Our customers health and wellbeing should always be our priority.
The World Health Organisation has identified ‘5 moments’ when health and social care workers should wash their hands.
These moments are:
1) Before touching the individual you are supporting
2) Immediately before carrying out a ‘clean’ procedure
3) After exposure to body fluids and after removing gloves
4) After touching the individual, you are supporting
5) After touching the area or objects surrounding the individual you are supporting.
This has a lot of focus on people in the new year looking for a new care provider, looking to start a career in care in the new year, its all about having a fresh start. If you keep an eye on Facebook you will see we are trying to emphasise recruitment more, and sharing this will spread the word.
This year is about improving employer brand- this is by making the appearance of staff already here stand out, so new staff can see how professional and put together we are as a company.
This can obviously start with LinkedIn, this is a place to network with other professionals and be inspired to grow within your job role. If you are not already active on LinkedIn, there will be many benefits of this in the new year.
We are constantly active on Facebook, posting job ad’s, actively recruiting for new staff and we need your help!
Next time you see a post regarding recruitment, comment on it and give a testimonial about us, tell us why you love working for us!
The Armed Forces Covenant is not a charitable organisation.
It is a promise from the nation to those who serve or who have served, and their families,
which says we will do all we canto ensure they are treated fairly and are not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives. The Armed Forces Covenant relies on the people, communities, and businesses of the UK to actively support it in order to make a difference.
Our Registered Manager, John, Our Deputy Managers Kayleigh and Amy and Our Care Team Leader, Tracey Tute, all attended a charity ball in honour of the Injured Players Foundation for the England Rugby’s Official Charity
The Injured Players Foundation provides support and information to rugby players in England who sustain a catastrophic spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury playing the game, and help prevent future injuries through vital research.
First of all, I’d like to wish you all a happy new year and hope that 2024 brings you all you hope for and deserve. I’d also like to acknowledge those that worked so hard over the festive period to deliver and maintain excellent care to our customers. Your efforts help those we care for, and their families enjoy precious moments together and to make memories that last, so thank you!
Moving into 2024 will be an exciting time for Bluebird Care and we have plans to grow and develop the business into something we can all be proud of. We also see Paige Mulholland (Deputy Manager) join the office team, Paige started at the beginning of this month and will be covering the Darlington and Newcastle areas. She’ll be reaching out to those of you in those areas soon and will be arranging time with you out in the field.
As a management team that came together last summer, we have worked hard to develop our ways of working and to establish ways we can improve the quality, safety, and continuity of care we provide. This is definitely having a positive impact and we are moving in the right direction. Our focus now needs to be around our compliance (making sure we have the right assessments, plans, touch points and training) and that the work you carry out is of the best quality possible. We already know that the relationships you have and the way you engage with our customers is of the best quality, but we now need to underpin this strength by making sure we record, document, and capture the detail required to prove we are indeed, an outstanding service provider. Your managers and care team leads will be your source of support in this and will discuss how we improve and achieve our goals in this regard.
Recruitment remains a significant challenge across the industry, but we are committed to sourcing and recruiting the right people to join us at all levels. If you know of anyone with the right skills and character who might want to join us, then please refer them into the office. We still have our “refer a friend” scheme in place with a financial reward paid out for referred candidates who successfully pass the probation period.
Since joining Bluebird, I’ve been aware of some queries around how we pay our care assistants, who qualifies for what type of pay rate and around the trail to introduce shift pay. My hope is that over the first quarter we will be able to review and clear up many of the issues we have had reported to us. So, please be on the look out communications coming out of the office regarding this. We aim to make how we pay our care assistants fair, consistent and clear to all.
Finally, I would like to ask you how you feel you would like to be engaged with about developments and how you can influence how we move forward as a business. Would face to face meetings be your preference or perhaps drop in video calls with your managers? We are keen to include you and support you to have your say. So please pop us an email or a message through OTH and we will listen and see what can be implemented.
In the meantime, please continue to make our business that little bit better, that little bit safer and make it somewhere we can be proud of. Thank you.
A day of crafts, customers telling stories, chatting to one another. At Bluebird York, we hosted a craft class for our customers and its safe to say, they all had an amazing day socialising and crafting…
It was amazing to see our customers and carers share laughs.
While resolutions often revolve around personal changes, setting goals for those under our care is equally crucial. These goals can shape a more fulfilling and healthier journey for our loved ones. Here is a guide to help caregivers navigate this process and create meaningful resolutions for their care recipients.
This may be a good activity to do with your loved ones, sitting and setting goals with them can motivate them, help them see what they are capable of!
Before diving into the new resolutions, take a moment to reflect on the progress made in the previous year. Acknowledge achievements, no matter how small, and recognise the efforts put into improving the quality of care. Reflecting on challenges faced can also offer insights into areas that require attention in the upcoming year.
Involve your loved one in the goal-setting process. Their input is invaluable as it ensures that the goals align with their preferences, needs, and capabilities. This collaboration fosters a sense of empowerment and autonomy, promoting a more positive and inclusive care dynamic.
– Physical Activity and Exercise: Set achievable fitness goals tailored to your loved one’s abilities. This might include daily walks, gentle stretching routines, or activities recommended by healthcare professionals to maintain mobility and strength.
– Nutrition and Diet: Aim for a well-balanced diet by incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Consider consulting a nutritionist to create a meal plan that suits your loved one’s dietary requirements.
– Medication Management: Organise medications effectively, set reminders for doses, and ensure regular medical check-ups to monitor health conditions and make any necessary adjustments.
– Social Engagement: Encourage social interactions to combat feelings of isolation. Plan activities that involve family, friends, or social groups that your loved one enjoys.
– Mindfulness and Relaxation: Introduce relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or hobbies that promote a sense of calm and reduce stress. A walk is a highly recommended type of mindfulness, not only does it release endorphins from exercise, but it helps you be in fresh air and around nature, releasing many happy hormones.
– Home Modifications: Assess the living space for safety hazards and make necessary modifications to ensure a secure environment.
– Accessibility: Enhance accessibility by organising items within easy reach and creating clear pathways for movement, especially if your loved one has mobility challenges.
Regularly review and track the progress of these goals. Celebrate achievements and adjust goals if necessary. Stay flexible, as the needs and abilities of your loved one may change over time.
Your loved one has walked an extra 5 minutes on their walk, reward them!
Setting New Year goals for loved ones under care is a thoughtful and initiative-taking approach to enhancing their quality of life. Remember, these goals are meant to inspire positive changes, foster well-being, and create a nurturing environment. As carers, your dedication to improving the lives of your loved ones is the cornerstone of these resolutions.
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)