Meet the team

We are all a friendly bunch, come in and say hello next time you are in the office!

Melvyn Plum

Director

My journey with Bluebird Care started when my Father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I was working as a Senior Social worker for Essex County Council and thought it would be a simple task to find a quality care company to support both my father and mother at our family home in Tendring. Unfortunately, this was not the case and proved to be a very difficult task.

During my search for a company that cared for its customers and shared my values I found Bluebird Care, however its services were not provided in the Tendring area. My experience and difficulty with finding the right provider made me realise how significantly I wanted to make a positive difference in the community to help and support people in their own homes and deliver the quality of care they deserve.

In March 2010 Bluebird Care Colchester & Tendring first opened its offices in Wivenhoe providing care across the Tendring and Colchester areas. Since 2010 the company has grown vastly and is continuing to do so, now providing care throughout North East Essex. We are committed to our customers and our staff, many of which have been with us from the beginning.

“Would this be what I would want for my family?” This question is something that is imbedded in our team’s values and drives them to provide the best possible care to our customers. Our mission statement since the first day has been “we aim to set standards of excellence and innovation for the care we provide our customers and for the training and support we give to our staff” and this still remains at the heart of the business.

If you would like to speak to me about home care please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Krissy Rice

Operations Manager

I am the Operations Manager for Bluebird Care Colchester and Tendring and Bluebird Care Braintree and Uttlesford.

I previously worked as an Office Manager and then onto Registered Manager for a  company but was fortunate enough to find my place at Bluebird Care back in February 2013 where I began my journey at Bluebird as the Registered Manager for our Tendring office.  In April 2016 our two locations were merged, and I became Registered Manager for Bluebird Care Colchester and Tendring.  In 2017 I also became the Registered Manager for Bluebird Care Braintree and Uttlesford.

It has been an extraordinary journey to support our team to develop into the group of amazing and dedicated people they are today providing high standard of care to our customers.

I passed the Registered Manager reigns to my colleagues Rebecca Dixon Bluebird Care Colchester and Tendring and Abigail Black Bluebird Care Braintree and Uttlesford in 2023 and I now have the pleasure of working very closely with them as they develop and grow into their new roles.

Now as the Operations Manager, I have the wonderful job of shaping the business, developing creative and innovative care strategies and solutions for our staff and customers ensuring they are safe and happy. 

I have the honour of leading the business to achieve the Gold Standards Framework Hallmark of Excellent in end-of-life care and I am very proud to have built our Rapid Response End of Life Care providing rapid care solutions to people who are at the end of their life.  Whilst working

I am married and have two teenage children and two cats one being a Bengal.  I love spending time with my husband and children, going to football matches and family days out.  When I am at home, I love to cross stitch and cook.  My mother was a Registered Nurse and built her own care company in our dining room when I was just 9 years old.  I have grown up surrounded by care and with it being a huge part of my life.  Working in care isn’t just a job for me, it is part of my identity and has helped shape the person I am today.

I am extremely proud to be the Operations Manager working with such a wonderful team of caring, enthusiastic people.

Abby Black

Registered Manager

I started working in care in 2017 with Bluebird Care as an administrator and care worker. I enjoyed getting to know the customers and care workers and would be the first point of contact in the office to assist with queries. After I had gained some valuable experience, I was promoted to Coordinator. This gave me further insight to the care industry ensuring customer visits were scheduled and staff rotas were completed. I would often assist the supervisor with carrying out reviews and attending new customer assessments and when the opportunity came about, I became a Supervisor in October 2020. It’s lovely to be able to get to know customers and their background and to create person centred care plans to meet their needs. No two days are ever the same.

In September 2022 I relocated and joined the team of Colchester & Tendring and joined the Braintree and Uttlesford office as Branch Manager in Decemebr 2022. As of June 2023 I am now the Registered Manager of the office.

Ann Hammond

HR Administrator & Recruitment Manager

I have worked in the caring industry for over 23 years, my first job was in a Mental Health Rehabilitation Home. I have worked in various settings from mental health, learning disabilities, elderly to looking after a lady with a brain injury and her 4 children.

I have worked in care home settings and in the community. I came to Bluebird as the HR Administrator for the Braintree office, May 2021. Alongside this role I was helping on the recruitment side for Braintree and the opportunity came up to oversee the Recruitment for both offices which I was happy to do.

I like talking to people and generally I am a good judge of character which I believe are key skills when recruiting Carers. Outside of work I love spending time with family/friends, reading and listening to music, going to the odd concert.

Holly-Ann Clampin

Care Coordinator

I started my career in care over 20 years ago would you believe! I began as a Care Assistant working in different care sectors. I have worked with people with dementia, nursing needs, elderly care, learning disabilities, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's and many more. I was able to work my way up from a Care Assistant to Senior Care Assistant to my current role as a Care Coordinator.

I began working part-time as a Care Coordinator, as during that period of time I was looking after my Grandma who had dementia and who sadly died two years later. I'm now a full-time Care Coordinator, having joined Bluebird Care in April 2024. So far it has been excellent and everyone has made me feel very welcome!

 

Outside my work, my hobbies are Arts and Crafts, watching films, walking my dog and spending time with my family and friends.

Panganayi Tuso

Clinical Lead Nurse

My path to nursing has been a fulfilling adventure, marked by dedication, learning, and a deep-rooted passion for caregiving.

My career in nursing spans over five years, a journey that began as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA). The dream of becoming a nurse has been a part of me since my early years in Zimbabwe. However, opportunities in the field were scarce back then. It was after moving to the UK and starting my beautiful family of three children that I seized the chance to pursue my nursing degree – a decision that has shaped my life profoundly.

Being a nurse is more than a profession to me; it's a calling. There's an indescribable joy and a sense of fulfilment in helping people maintain their independence and ensuring they experience the highest quality of life possible. Every day, I am privileged to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we care for.

What fills me with immense pride is witnessing the positive changes and improvements in our clients' lives, directly resulting from our dedicated care, support, and expertise. It's these moments that remind me of the impact and importance of our work.

As a Clinical Lead, I am committed to bringing my experience, knowledge, and compassion to the forefront, ensuring that our care services are not only effective but also delivered with empathy and understanding. I look forward to continuing this incredible journey, working alongside our fantastic team to provide the best care possible.

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