Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire have partnered up with the University of Lincoln and Lincolnshire Care Association to introduce the Nursing Associate Programme for home care Care Assistants who wish to gain further qualifications.
Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire have begun offering this apprenticeship style placement to encourage further training and career development, without having to give up work, or go off to University. The Nursing Associate Programme provides the qualification between a Care Assistant and Nurse, a strong career progression for Care Assistants who want to upskill.
Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire all provide a unique service and approach to home care. They offer a wide range of clinical care services, which is not typical of all home care providers. Debbie Ferguson is the Nursing Manager and works across all three franchises to offer expert care to her customers.
Over the next two years, Debbie will be training her new student, Rachel Lear. Rachel, 44 began the Nursing Associate Programme on 21st January this year and will finish her training as a qualified Nursing Associate. Rachel has worked at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire for almost two years and has progressed during her time with the home care provider. She started as a Care Assistant and within just six months, had been promoted to a Care Assistant Mentor. Before this, Rachel was a teacher and had been in the teaching profession for 15 years, after which she decided to have a career change and go into domiciliary care.
This opportunity came about after the University of Lincoln approached Bluebird Care Lincoln asking if they would like to take part. The University have been running the Nursing Associates Programme for two years and, when they learnt Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire offer a more clinically focused service, knew they had to offer them the chance to be the first home care provider in the UK to offer the Programme. This opportunity is so unique because home care providers do not usually offer such a clinical service, this is usually left to nursing homes and hospitals. However, the care team and Director of Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, Victoria Webber, are passionate about ensuring people are comfortable in their own homes, while receiving the care they need.
The Programme was offered to all staff who work at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire and the idea was received with great interest and following a formal interview process, Rachel was selected. The University has a new intake of students every year and seeks to grow learners in a professional environment. The Programme also offers a placement at another care provider, and Rachel will be doing hers in a hospital, where the hospital student will join Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire for two weeks. The qualification is funded by the local authority, but the students wages are paid by Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire
Rachel Lear, Trainee Nursing Associate, Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said:
“I am thoroughly enjoying the TNA course. Every day is different, it is a good mixture of delivering care to our customers and training both at university and with our Nurse Manager. There is lots to learn however everyone at Bluebird Care are so supportive, giving me a wide range of experiences, which I approach enthusiastically.”
Victoria Webber, Director of Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said:
“This training is such a fulfilling opportunity and I’m really pleased we have been able to give someone the opportunity to keep learning while also working. Rachel has taken to the role so well and Debbie is doing a wonderful job of overseeing her and guiding her through. Thank you also, to the University for making this possible, it has always been my ambition to give my staff as many career development opportunities as possible and this Programme is a great way a broadening the already strong options we have at all the Bluebird Care franchises across Lincoln.”
Debbie Ferguson, Nursing Manager at Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire, said:
“I am really pleased to see another member of the team training to be able to do nursing. My job is extremely enjoyable and I see great importance in being able to provide a nursing service to people in the comfort of their own homes. Rachel is a wonderful student and I think it is great that Bluebird Care Lincoln, Bluebird Care North East Lincolnshire and West Lindsey and Bluebird Care South Lincolnshire and the University are giving her and other students this opportunity to gain further skills and make a real difference to people’s lives.”
