I love my team; they’re like my work family.

Meet Clem, Registered Manager at Bluebird Care Essex West and finalist of our Registered Manager of the Year Award at our 2023 Bluebird Care Awards.  

My job is so rewarding and there was a really special moment recently. I supported one of our customers who’s in her eighties to stay at home. My team and I went above and beyond to respect her wishes and she was so grateful. One morning I was delivering care to her, and she came up to me and gave me a big cuddle. She said: ‘thank you so much for making such a difference to me, thank you for listening to me, thank you for helping me and never letting me down.’ I felt really touched by that.  Home is very important to her, it’s where she feels safe. 

I joined Bluebird Care as a carer eleven years ago, and at first, I worked part time. I was hungry for success, but I was looking after my young children and also studying for a degree in health and social care. Bluebird Care were so flexible with me and really supported me to achieve. 

As soon as I finished my degree, I worked full time hours. I was promoted to supervisor, from there I progressed to being an office manager, and now, at 32, I am the registered manager. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. I had a lot of support from Bluebird Care along the way. I think they’re a great company. I feel I’m not just an employee to them. 

Now I’m responsible now for a team of about 20 people. My job is so varied, no two days are the same. I aim to create an environment where team members are well connected, engaged, and provided with opportunity. 

I’m very keen to recruit mums looking for a career. They have skills looking after their own children and those skills are transferable. 

I also feel passionate about encouraging young people into social care. I want to say to them: ‘you can progress, you can have a career in care.’ I’m a prime example. You Just have to give it a go. It’s easy if it comes naturally to you. 

I have a passion for outstanding care, and I enjoy delivering care. I go to see our customers; it may be to do a review, or an assessment and I cover calls.  

Some days it’s not like going to work. I visit someone, have a good catch up and a cup of tea. It makes such a difference to their life. I might be the only person they see that day. 

I treat our customers the same way I’d treat my family. I want to deliver safe and effective care. 

I feel it’s important to keep them independent, to listen to them and to make them an active partner in their care. 

I have three children, aged seven, 10 and 14, and I feel they’ve been on the journey with me. My daughter had a career day at school, and we dressed her up as a Bluebird Care carer.  

I was honoured to be a finalist in the Bluebird Care Awards 2023. It was a surprise, I don’t do my job for awards, I just get on with it. I was touched when my team nominated me. 

I love my team; they’re like my work family. Without them I wouldn’t be in my role, they work exceptionally hard and I’m proud of every single one of them.