Bluebird Care staff praised at awards ceremony for 'transforming lives'

Care workers at Bluebird Care have been praised at its national awards ceremony for “doing an amazing job and transforming lives”.

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England and one of the awards judges, commended the finalists, saying: “All the people at these awards have been outstanding.”

The National Bluebird Care awards ceremony took place at London’s Fortnum & Mason where three national winners were announced.

Linda Harvey, a care assistant at Bluebird Care Swindon, won ‘Carer of the Year’.

This award recognises people who work on the front line each day, and Linda was praised for always going above and beyond and being a central part of the local community.

Caroline Summerville, a registered manager at Bluebird Care Mid and West Cornwall won the ‘Registered Manager of the Year’ award.

She received the award for her outstanding work in recruitment and training for the team at Bluebird Care Mid and West Cornwall and the care she has shown to those in the wider community.

Libby Irvine, the training manager at Bluebird Care South Buck, South Wycombe and Slough, won the ‘Team Member of the Year’ award.

This is given out to team members who embody Bluebird Care and who have an exceptional focus on both the carer and the customer. Libby Irvine won this award because of the energy, vibrance and commitment to her role, and to Bluebird Care.

This year’s panel of judges included Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England; Colin Angel, policy and communications director of UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) and Sue Learner, editor of homecare.co.uk and carehome.co.uk.

The judges were given time to meet the finalists and interview them to get a sense of how they go above and beyond in their daily roles.

The judges then selected the winners from a pool of finalists, who had been selected from a record number of applications from across the whole of the Bluebird Care franchise network.

Yvonne Hignell, managing director of Bluebird Care, called the awards a “roaring success” and said: “We could not be happier with how the ceremony went.

“The finalists who have joined us are a real representation of all the amazing work that is carried out by the Bluebird Care team across the UK each day.”

Sue Learner, editor of homecare.co.uk, and one of the judges, said: “Every day I see reviews on homecare.co.uk which really show the impact that home care workers have on people’s lives, but to meet some of these people making that difference has been incredible. So many care professionals really go above and beyond.

“These awards are a lovely way of recognising their hard work and commitment.”

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, and also a judge at the event, added: “All the people at these awards have been outstanding.

“I would like to say to everyone at these awards, and across Bluebird Care, you are doing an amazing job, transforming lives and just enjoy your work, because what you do is really special.”

Fellow judge Colin Angel and policy director at United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), called it an “incredible honour to be one of the judges for these awards, and to meet so many talented nominees and hear about the fantastic services they are delivering throughout the UK.

“Everyone who was nominated for an award has done a fantastic job and has really impressed the judges.”

This year’s Bluebird Care Awards celebrated 15 finalists, in three categories. The full list follows below:

Carer of the Year

• Dave Finch, Scotland, NI & the North

• Rukhsana Ali, Midlands East

• Natasha Perry, Midlands West & Wales

• Angela McMillan, London & South East

• Linda Harvey, Swindon

Registered Manager of the Year

• Becki Moore, Scotland, NI & the North

• Richard Atkinson, Midlands East

• Siobhan Carroll, Midlands West & Wales

• Jade Hobbs, London & South East

• Caroline Summerville, Mid and West Cornwall

Team Member of the Year

• Veronica Carlyle, Care Assistant, Scotland, NI & the North

• Samantha Ward, Care Coordinator, Midlands West & Wales

• Jade Rose, Registered Care Manager, London & South East

• Kim Teagle, Recruitment Manager, South West

• Libby Irvine, Training Manager, South Buck, South Wycombe and Slough

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