Bluebird Care Burton & Swadlincote Holds First Committee Meeting

On 26th February 2025, Bluebird Care Burton & Swadlincote proudly hosted its first Committee Meeting at the Needwood office, marking a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to quality care and community collaboration. The meeting brought together a dedicated group of care professionals, customers, and family representatives to discuss key initiatives, share feedback, and outline our vision for the future.

Achieving Our Goals – Value-Based Recruitment

One of the key topics discussed was our journey towards a value-based recruitment process. With around 200 applications received monthly, the team delved into how we select only the best candidates to join our team. By focusing on qualities such as compassion, reliability, and empathy, we aim to ensure that every care assistant aligns with Bluebird Care’s core values.

During the discussion, N. Mitchell raised a valuable question on how we match care assistants to customers. Our current practice of exploring hobbies and interests during interviews was highlighted as an effective method to create meaningful connections between carers and customers. B. Taylor praised the exit interview process, stating that it is an excellent way to gather honest feedback and continually improve our support for staff.

Voices That Matter – Real Life Testimonials

A key initiative going forward is to gather personal testimonials from carers, customers, and their families. These powerful stories will be used in our induction training, giving new recruits a heartfelt insight into what excellent care means to those we support. The committee wholeheartedly supported this initiative, acknowledging that it will help people feel heard, valued, and appreciated.

Feedback from G. Gaskell via email outlined the essential values of a good care assistant, including patience, communication, and kindness – all qualities we strive to uphold in our daily practice. These values will be incorporated into our induction materials, reinforcing our commitment to delivering person-centred care.

Prioritising Mental Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing is at the heart of Bluebird Care’s ethos. The meeting highlighted the importance of regular one-to-one supervisions and monthly staff meetings, providing opportunities for open conversations. Additionally, from April 2025, in-house Mental Health First Aid and wellbeing workshops will offer further support to carers, customers, and their families.

Enhancing Dementia Training

In response to feedback, our Dementia training will be enhanced with practical scenarios that reflect real-life situations. This hands-on approach will equip our carers with the skills and confidence needed to provide the highest standard of care to customers living with Dementia.

Looking Ahead

The committee’s first meeting set a positive foundation for future collaboration. As B. Taylor remarked:

It’s great to have an open discussion meeting where we’ve been able to exchange views and swap ideas.

N. Mitchell echoed this sentiment, describing the meeting as a “brilliant idea” that shows Bluebird Care is both progressive and professional. They further added:

I think the meeting went well this afternoon. It is a brilliant idea, keeping carers, clients and families involved. I think everyone being open and honest gives an insight into how the company operates. It shows that Bluebird is a progressive, professional and caring company not only for clients but also the staff. This at the end of the day benefits the business and also the clients. As I have said before I am really impressed with the high standard of care and also the efficient and effective management, which appears to solve day to day problems before they develop into major issues. This in turn removes a major amount of stress.

We are excited to move forward with these initiatives and continue building a service where everyone’s voice is heard, and every individual feels valued.

Our next Committee Meeting will take place on 23rd April 2025, and we welcome further contributions as we shape the future of care at Bluebird Care Burton & Swadlincote.