Bluebird Care Wandsworth, Putney & Battersea

Like many people, I switched my career to Health & Social Care after a member of my family had a very poor experience. In this case, it was my grandparent who was in a care home. My initial career started in solar energy design back home in Yorkshire, but now I couldn't imagine working in any other sector.

I moved to London with my partner and joined a small complex care company initially as a Field Care Supervisor and then Area Care Manager. By studying independently at the same time, I ultimately achieved my goal to become a Registered Care Manager.

I feel lucky to have supported the people we care for across all levels, from delivering care myself to operational management. This has given me a huge insight and appreciation for the hard work our carers carry out on a daily basis, and the support our customers need to remain comfortable and safe in their own homes.

It’s a privilege to lead such a successful and dedicated team and to share in our fantastic reputation for care as it should be.

As a mum to two young daughters, I initially joined the team as a part-time administrator. Over time, I progressed into the role of Head of Recruitment, growing alongside this family company as my own girls grew up. Today, I’m proud to be the full-time Business Manager and Director.

I remain closely involved with our wonderful carers—many of whom have been with us for years—and I love seeing the individual journeys they take from the day they start working with us.

I’m amusually the first point of contact for people enquiring about our services, a role I take incredibly seriously. I was once in that same position myself, unsure where to start and needing help for my own mum. I know just how daunting and confusing the process can feel.

Because of that experience, it’s deeply important to me that no one feels as overwhelmed as I once did. I’m committed to offering the very best advice and support I can.

It’s truly a privilege to do what I do.

My interest in care began at school, where I studied Health and Social Care. After continuing on to college and completing my NVQs, I began working in a care home. It didn’t take long to realise that working with people in a care home wasn’t for me – they should be in their own homes.

My great-grandmother, unfortunately, had a bad experience with care, and this made me want to prove that not all care is of a poor standard. I began working as a carer for Bluebird Care and worked my way up.

I certainly feel I am fulfilling my ambition. I am really proud of the work that we all do here, and we are most certainly proving to people that high-quality care is out there.

I'm now Customer Services Manager. It’s hugely rewarding to make such a difference to others. I truly enjoy my work and am thankful to Bluebird Care for allowing me to do what I love.

Started as a carer in 2019.

I had worked in retail for some years when my son had an accident and needed my help, and that was when I realised I'd been in the wrong profession all along!

I have been with Bluebird Care for some years now, and initially started as a Carer and then worked my way up. Making a difference in someone's life is just so rewarding, and you get to meet the most interesting and wonderful characters. It's all about people, which I love.

As Care Supervisor, I lead our Bluebird Care rapid response Home from Hospital discharge service, working with the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group). I go out and assess the needs of the person leaving the hospital and ensure everything is ready for them to come home and start their road to recovery with us. I love it!

This part of my work as a Care Supervisor is all about teamwork with my beautiful Bluebird Care family.

Organisation is always challenging, but every day is different.

Just to know I can make someone happy by getting them back into their own environment and see them with a smile on their face means I have done my job well.

Seeing the difference we make to people - seeing the change in their faces when we look after them and give them what they need, reassuring them.

It’s a privilege to be able to contribute towards supporting people to stay in their own homes, staying where they want to be.

It’s my life, I love what I do!

Susan manages and supports care workers, ensuring high-quality, person-centred care delivery in the community by conducting assessments, providing in-the-moment training/supervision (like inductions, appraisals, mentoring), and ensuring compliance with standards, blending field visits with care duties to bridge communication and quality between management and carers.

Working for Bluebird Care, I realised immediately that looking for Care Assistants was a much more personal experience than I had had before in my career.

While I am familiar with the reality of having someone you love looking after by less than committed strangers, I now have the opportunity to make a difference in this for other people.

Becoming a Care Assistant is not something that only training can create. Finding the wonderful people who have the natural warmth, empathy and initiative to provide the support, encouragement and care that makes the difference to each individual, is challenging and intense.

I am usually the first contact, and so I get to know every carer who comes to us individually. Our Care Manager conducts the second interview, and then each successful person is invited to join us to train as if we were choosing someone personally important to us.

I support the new carers during training and watch them become respected and vital members of our team. Training is ongoing, and most visit the office often, sometimes for updates and sometimes just to chat in the warm, friendly atmosphere of the office.

It gives me an enormous boost that I have a part to play in enabling people to remain at home in familiar surroundings in a dignified way. That the ladies and gentlemen that I first chatted to by phone, email and at recruitment events are making such a difference to so many people’s lives.

Outside of work, I’m a busy wife and mum, spending much of my time supporting my two beautiful daughters with their sport, dancing and singing. My own interests include travelling, dancing, listening to music, reading and cooking!

I love being around family and friends, and I include my work colleagues in that! I feel very lucky; I have a wonderful family and a great job.