Bluebird Care East Devon's Care Worker of the Year 2017, Debbie Foxford
Published: 04/11/2017
Introducing Bluebird Care East Devon's Care Worker of the Year 2017, Debbie Foxford.
Introducing Debbie Foxford, Bluebird Care East Devon Care Worker of the Year
Debbie has also been shortlisted as a finalist for Home Care Worker of the Year in the Great British Care Awards.
1) Please could you tell us your name, age, job title and how long you have worked for Bluebird Care?
Debbie Foxford, 59, Care Assistant. I have worked for Bluebird Care for 2.5 years.2) What hours do you work, and is it on a shift/rota pattern?
7am-4pm daily. It is not on a shift pattern but we work from an on-line roster which shows me who I am caring for and gives me access to their care plan and medication etc.3) What qualifications have you got within the care industry?
I have my Care Certificate and have passed my NVQ2. I have taken a number of courses with Bluebird Care including Handling & Medication; Manual Handling; Food & Hygiene and First Aid.4) Are you studying for other qualifications?
I am currently studying under Bluebird Care for my NVQ3 specialising in Dementia.
5) What does your current role consist of?
We provide lots of different types of services at Bluebird Care – and our visits can be as long or as short as people want or need. The types of services I carry out with my customers are helping with their personal care mostly – helping people get up, washed, dressed and ready for the day. We also provide an Enabling service which I do - which really means supporting customers to get out and about, whether it’s to a hair appointment, a supermarket shop or like the other day, when we went to the Otter Garden Centre and had a cup of tea. I can also take my customers to doctors or hospital appointments when they are needed. I can assist my customers with preparing and cooking their meals and also do some general housework for some of my customers. This is all part of our work and the type of care and support people can have with Bluebird Care.
6) Can you describe a typical day in your job?
My work day between 7am and 4pm and centres around my customer’s needs that day. Mornings are all about helping my customers get out of bed, wash and get dressed and have breakfast. There will be a certain amount of light housework to be done and helping prepare lunches. There will often be medication to administer and of course, I always make sure there is time to have a chat and catch up with their news. Despite there being a real pattern to my day – each day is always very different and each day brings its own unique challenges and rewards.
7) Have you always worked in the care industry? If not, what were you doing before?
No. I worked in Hospitality before and have always enjoyed working with people.8) Were you nervous about entering the care industry – it can be quite an intimate job…
I can say I never felt nervous. This is I think down to two things. One, I simply love working with people and two, I had really great training and induction with Bluebird Care.9) What are the rewards of the job?
My clients. I have developed some really great relationships with my customers. I care about them greatly.10) You were recently awarded Bluebird Care’s Care Worker of the Year. Can you clarify the award’s title, and what do you think helped you to win it?
My hard work and never saying ‘no’.11) Have you experienced any difficult moments while being a care worker? If so, what were they?
I had one customer who really struggled with trusting me as she didn’t want to admit she couldn’t cope. However, I spent lots of time working on developing her trust and she happily accepts my help and care now.12) Would you recommend other people should consider entering the care profession? If so, why?
Absolutely. With the right attitude, it can be a hugely rewarding job.13) Is there anything you would like to add?
The team I work with at Bluebird Care East Devon are all fantastic – really supportive.
