Bluebird Care Colchester & Tendring

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 20 years of experience in the Health and Social Care Sector - although I have known the industry from a young age. My mother introduced me to the Care industry and I grew up around the sector.

Prior to coming to Bluebird Care, I built my career by becoming an Office Manager for a different Care provider and within this role I supported the day to day management of the business. In 2010 I then progressed to become a Care Manager.

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.

My first introduction to the Care sector was over 20 years ago when I began working in the office at a small business. 2 weeks into starting, my manager asked me to train as a Care Assistant and my passion for Care grew from there. I learnt how to support customers in their own homes in the community and loved the idea of customers staying independent in their own homes, so for the past 20 years have always worked in Community Care settings. As it was a small business I trained in all aspects of Care and Care Management, including attending meetings with local councils and professionals. Prior to working in Care, I worked at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall as an Office Manager.

I joined Bluebird Care in 2013 when the Tendring office opened and have worked as part of the admin team for the past 7 years. I really enjoy supporting the care team and our customers with their queries and working closely with Management on maintaining our high standards across not only the services but the back-office administration in line with CQC standards.

Shannon is responsible for Compliance and Quality control.

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.

My path to nursing has been a fulfilling adventure, marked by dedication, learning, and a deep-rooted passion for caregiving.

My career in nursing spans over five years, a journey that began as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA). The dream of becoming a nurse has been a part of me since my early years in Zimbabwe. However, opportunities in the field were scarce back then. It was after moving to the UK and starting my beautiful family of three children that I seized the chance to pursue my nursing degree – a decision that has shaped my life profoundly.

Being a nurse is more than a profession to me; it's a calling. There's an indescribable joy and a sense of fulfilment in helping people maintain their independence and ensuring they experience the highest quality of life possible. Every day, I am privileged to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we care for.

What fills me with immense pride is witnessing the positive changes and improvements in our clients' lives, directly resulting from our dedicated care, support, and expertise. It's these moments that remind me of the impact and importance of our work.

As a Clinical Lead, I am committed to bringing my experience, knowledge, and compassion to the forefront, ensuring that our care services are not only effective but also delivered with empathy and understanding. I look forward to continuing this incredible journey, working alongside our fantastic team to provide the best care possible.

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.

Chris has 30 years of experience within the care industry working with the elderly and adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Chris has been with the Bluebird Care team since its offices opened and is responsible for the logistics of running the domiciliary care services for Colchester & Tendring, working closely with Chloe.

I started my career in care over 20 years ago would you believe? I began as a Care Assistant working in different care sectors. I have worked with people with dementia, nursing needs, elderly care, learning disabilities, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's and many more. I was able to work my way up from a Care Assistant to a Senior Care Assistant to my current role as a Care Coordinator.

I began working part-time as a Care Coordinator, as during that period of time I was looking after my Grandma who had dementia and who sadly died two years later. I'm now a full-time Care Coordinator, having joined Bluebird Care in April 2024. So far it has been excellent and everyone has made me feel very welcome!

Outside my work, my hobbies are Arts and Crafts, watching films, walking my dog and spending time with my family and friends.