Sophie's Story

I joined domiciliary care just 2 months after I turned 18. I had previously worked at QA Hospital and knew that by nature this industry was what I was destined to do. I didn’t know much about domiciliary care at that time but a relative was working for a domiciliary care company and referred me. Soon after I joined, I was working every hour I could, helping in the office with rotas and training and as I was young with no commitments, I loved spending as much time as I could learning about this industry and covering care calls. For over 8 years, I worked in a care home and at the hospital but couldn’t find my feet there. I started working as a private carer in a gentleman’s own home where I supported him 7 days a week for 5 years, as well as supporting a child in her own home for 5 years. I then had children of my own and naturally needed to alter my working patterns to work around home life. I started looking for full-time employment within the industry, knowing I wanted to stick with supporting people in the community. A Care Coordinator position was available with Bluebird Care and after extensive research into the company, I couldn’t believe that a company could sound as good as they did, so needed to see it with my own eyes. I loved every minute of my interview and when I was offered the position I was over the moon. I’ve now worked here for 8 years in a variety of positions such as Coordinator, Supervisor, Business Development Officer and Registered Manager.

The career pathway that Bluebird Care directors set out for me from the off seemed to be quite accurate! They always showed their trust and faith in my abilities, telling me that one day they see me as managing one of their branches and here I am today, standing very proudly with the Registration for Portsmouth. I have never been so invested in a company as I am to this one. I care dearly about this branch and the staff in it, I love seeing staff be the best they can be and creating new opportunities for people, as well as working to provide a premium service for customers.

The support throughout my 8 years has been second to none. Whenever I have needed additional training or guidance, it’s always been offered to me. I have learnt so much from the leadership team here and would not be half the person I am without the support and guidance from the teams here.

I love how community-engaged Bluebird Care has always been. If it wasn’t for the directors having such a passion for going above and beyond for customers, then the things that we do wouldn’t be possible. Our events, our monthly celebrations and outings for customers are all such lovely things for us to do and I love seeing customers' faces when they come to meet new people. I also love how diverse we are in the support we provide. We are always thinking of new and innovative ways of providing support to customers in the community.  

I would advise anyone considering a career in care to just pick up the phone and enquire. I don’t think anybody will truly know the ins and outs of dom care until they hear someone talk about it. I would love more people to just pop into our office and ask us questions about our line of work, even if they didn’t want to give it a go at least we know we would give the right information about careers in care so that there aren’t any misconceptions based on media coverage.

I just want to share my gratitude to all the people who have believed in me during my 8 years of working here. Each person I have worked with has positively influenced me at some stage whether that be carers, office staff, people from other branches or my seniors. At some point, each person would have inspired me to be a better person. I am more patient, open-hearted and conscientious in my personal life and I put that down to working at Bluebird Care.

Pascale's story

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in domiciliary care?

My name is Pascale, and I am the Deputy Care Manager at our Portsmouth branch. I have worked in the care industry for 10 years now. I first started at a domiciliary company when I was 19. After spending 4 years in childcare, I felt like I needed a change and a new challenge. A close friend of mine had recently become a care assistant and urged me to give it a try. To start, I was very apprehensive but here I am 10 years later, and I still have the same passion for this job as I first did 10 years ago.

What prompted you to join Bluebird Care, and how long have you been with the team?

I have always been aware of Bluebird Care and always felt it seemed like a great community/ team to join. I distinctly remember seeing members of the team and noticing how professional they always looked. When I saw an advert for the Portsmouth branch as a deputy care manager, I was very eager to apply and the process of being interviewed and starting was a good experience for me personally. From the minute I arrived, I was made to feel welcomed, and I knew instantly that this was a team I wanted to join and had similar values to.

What does a typical day look like for you as a Deputy Care Manager at Bluebird Care?

As for any role in the care industry, no two days are the same. My day normally involves supporting the day-to-day running of the service, dealing with incident forms, safeguarding’s and CQC notifications. As well as supporting all team members in their roles.

What kind of training and support have you received since starting this role?

At the start of my probation, I attended in-house training which consisted of induction training, basic first aid, medication and moving and handling. I was also shown the PASS app which we use for our customer care plans, risk assessments and care notes.

Since I joined, I have also received PEG training, Dementia Friends training and First aid in the workplace.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

The most rewarding thing about my role is seeing the difference we make in people's lives. I love being able to go above and beyond to improve each and every individual’s quality of life. It really does give you that warm fuzzy feeling.

What do you think sets Bluebird Care apart from other care providers?

At Bluebird Care, we are always thinking of ways to improve and ways that we can support people in a different way to other providers. We can offer services that not all providers can, and I feel that really sets us above the rest. For example, we have had some team members trained in cutting toenails. A lot of our customers find this so useful as it can be difficult to get a Chiropodist appointment.

We as a company invest so much into our staff members and it really does make you feel valued and part of a team which is not always something I have felt with other providers I have worked for.

How do you see your career progressing with Bluebird Care?

At the start of my employment, I made it known that my career goals are to become a Registered Manager. Since then, I have had the support and encouragement from my managers to hopefully get to this role in the near future. I can see myself staying with Bluebird Care for a very long time. When you are supported in your role, you always see much better results in what you do and that is something that I have experienced here personally.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in domiciliary care?

I think if you have a caring nature and get enjoyment from helping people, then go for it! This career really did change the persona that I was for the better. It made me see the world differently and realise that this is the kind of industry I wanted to progress in. There is a sense of achievement you get from this job, that I have never had in any other industry. I think if you are starting out in care, then remain open-minded, be willing to work as a team and be willing to learn. We provide amazing training and have a fantastic team of carers and care champions who support you through the process.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience working at Bluebird Care?

It has restored my faith in managers and directors! The support you receive is second to none.