Bluebird Care Colchester, Tendring, Braintree and Uttlesford

My journey with Bluebird Care started when my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I was working as a Senior Social worker for Essex County Council and thought it would be a simple task to find a quality care company to support both my father and mother at our family home in Tendring. Unfortunately, this was not the case and proved to be a very difficult task.

During my search for a company that cared for its customers and shared my values, I found Bluebird Care, however, its services were not provided in the Tendring area. My experience and difficulty with finding the right provider made me realise how significantly I wanted to make a positive difference in the community to help and support people in their own homes and deliver the quality of care they deserve.

In March 2010 Bluebird Care Colchester & Tendring first opened its offices in Wivenhoe providing care across the Tendring and Colchester areas. Since 2010 the company has grown vastly and is continuing to do so, now providing care throughout North East Essex. We are committed to our customers and our staff, many of which have been with us from the beginning.

“Would this be what I would want for my family?” This question is something that is embedded in our team’s values and drives them to provide the best possible care to our customers. Our mission statement since the first day has been “we aim to set standards of excellence and innovation for the care we provide our customers and for the training and support we give to our staff” and this still remains at the heart of the business.

If you would like to speak to me about home care please do not hesitate to get in touch.

I have worked at Bluebird Care since its Tendring offices opened as the registered Care Manager. I am now the Registered Care Manager for both the Colchester and Tendring and Braintree and Uttlesford offices and has completed my Level 4 Diploma in Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care.

In 2020 I became our Registered Operations Manager and will be working towards an Operations Departmental Manager qualification.

I qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse over 20 years ago and have a range of experience working within the NHS in various psychiatric Care Settings including secure units in hospitals. Prior to joining Bluebird Care, I worked as a Community Psychiatric Nurse as part of the NHS team.

I transferred to the private sector and joined Bluebird Care in April 2019. As part of my current role, I help new customers learn more about Bluebird Care and the type of care and support we can provide for their mental health needs, and support the Supervisors in building a bespoke Care Plan to match the customers’ needs, lifestyle and ultimately help them remain independent within their own home. As part of this, I provide bespoke training to staff to educate them on mental health needs as well as to structure support for staff to help build their internal resilience and understand how to improve their own mental well-being.

I started my career in Care just over 18 years ago as a Care Assistant in a residential home; I was introduced to Care when I had my first baby and was looking for a flexible role that could make a difference but also fit around my new family life. Members of my family already worked in Care, so I knew that it was something I wanted to try.

20 years later and I love the difference that you can make to people's lives in the community. I am thankful for the qualifications and knowledge I have gained over the past 18 years in different care settings, and I'm pleased to be able to pass on that knowledge and support our Care Team to be the best they can be for our customers in the community.

I have two children of my own, and my youngest is so proud of what we do and the difference that we make, that she hopes to grow up one day to be a Care Assistant herself. I love how much the Care team and my own career has inspired her, and I hope to inspire more people to get involved in the Care industry; there really is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you're helping someone, and knowing because of you they can remain independent in their own home in the community.

With my current role, I support the Care team to continue reaching and exceeding the high standards of care we provide at Bluebird Care. I create meaningful and educational training content to inform and support the Care team's understanding of their roles and equip them with the tools they need to be prepared for any situation that they could face in the community.

I've been on a remarkable journey in the field of caregiving that began in 1997. Starting as a dedicated Care Assistant, I've steadily worked my way up to becoming a Registered Care Manager. Over the years, I've cultivated a deep passion for providing quality care and support to those in need, always striving to make a positive impact.

Beyond my professional life, I'm a fervent sports enthusiast, with a particular fondness for netball and football. In addition to enjoying these sports as a fan, I've taken on the role of managing an all-inclusive youth football team. It's been a rewarding experience, promoting inclusivity and nurturing young talents both on and off the field.

For the past seven years, I've had the privilege of being a part of the Bluebird Care family. During this time, my dedication to supporting team members and customers has remained unwavering. In a world where my passion for caregiving and love for sports intersect, I find fulfilment in making a difference in the lives of those I care for and in the sporting community, I'm deeply involved with.

My journey to where I am now has been a bit random, I started coaching football and teaching P.E. lessons, and from there I went into a warehouse where after a couple of years I became a supervisor and really enjoyed the problem-solving and different challenges it would bring. In 2018 I suffered the loss of my first baby which really hit me hard, but the support I received made me want to give back, to help and support people. So, in 2020 I made a decision that would change my life forever and join Bluebird's Rapid Response team, hands down the best career decision I ever made. From there I have go on to become a Senior and now Supervisor which I am really enjoying.

Outside of work, I love watching football and big Liverpool fan, I enjoy being active going for walks, spending time with my ever-growing family and trying new things, especially food I love food.

I have worked in the caring industry for over 23 years, my first job was in a Mental Health Rehabilitation Home. I have worked in various settings from mental health, learning disabilities, elderly to looking after a lady with a brain injury and her 4 children.

I have worked in care home settings and in the community. I came to Bluebird as the HR Administrator for the Braintree office, in May 2021. Alongside this role, I was helping on the recruitment side for Braintree and the opportunity came up to oversee the Recruitment for both offices which I was happy to do.

I like talking to people and generally, I am a good judge of character which I believe are key skill when recruiting Carers. Outside of work, I love spending time with family/friends, reading and listening to music, and going to the odd concert.

Football has always held a special place in my heart. I am an unwavering supporter of Manchester United, proudly wearing their colours and living and breathing each match. But my connection to the beautiful game runs deeper than that. I am an active participant, and every Saturday, you'll find me on the field, donning the Kings Park Rangers jersey. Football isn't just a hobby; it's a passion that fuels my spirit and provides me with a sense of purpose.

In 2020, I embarked on a career in the care sector, assuming the role of a finance manager. Over the course of three years, I've taken on the responsibility of managing the financial aspects of the industry, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to support the care of those in need. My journey began with a small, family-centred care company, where I gained invaluable experience and developed a deep understanding of the financial intricacies involved in providing quality care.

I started with Bluebird Care in January 2023 this marked a significant turning point in my career when I joined Bluebird Care, a distinguished care organization renowned for its commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care. Here, my expertise in finance has found a new purpose as I contribute to the financial stability of the organization, enabling it to continue making a positive impact on the lives of its clients.