A career in care

Starting as a Care Assistant before being promoted to a manager, Louise is now a Registered Care Manager at Bluebird Care Fareham.

Louise has worked in the care industry for 7 years. She started as a Care Assistant before being promoted to a manager for a company in West Sussex, and now Louise is a Registered Care Manager at Bluebird Care Fareham. 

Starting a new job during a pandemic is no easy task, but despite the difficult circumstances Louise feels it was the right move. “Since starting with Bluebird care Fareham I have never been made to feel more welcome. I first met my team over a video meeting, and I had only met my manager once face-to-face at the interview, although I now feel like I’ve known her for years! The care team are fantastic at their roles with such positive attitudes, which is crucial as their roles can be very challenging. I feel lucky to have such a great team behind me.”

As a Registered Care Manager Louise’s day-to-day role is varied, which means she is constantly developing her skill set. “I am a very hands-on manager. I like to complete assessments, assist with the rotas and be out in the field providing care to customers. I love doing a bit of everything and as a manager I would never expect staff to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. Dealing with people at different levels has really helped me to develop my people skills and communication skills. Over the years, I have really gained extensive experience in assessing an individual’s care and support needs which is crucial as each customer is unique and deserves the very best care and attention. I feel at home here at Bluebird Care Fareham and if I’m going to develop my role further it will be here.”

Having worked for various care organisations, Louise has gained experience of some of the key attributes needed in such a demanding industry. “I think clear and concise communication is absolutely key in this industry and that is definitely what our team have. Everyone is approachable and staff recognise that starting a new job can be daunting, even more so if you haven’t worked in care before. The support that is offered for new starters is fantastic. The work culture is very forward-thinking, and I was so pleased that they use an electronic monitoring and recording system called PASS which I am experienced in using. We are encouraged to embrace technology and share new ideas, so it was great for me to share my thoughts and ideas with my team and together we looked at ways to improve procedures.”

Working in care can mean different things to different people. Fortunately for Louise, she feels the company culture is matched to her own beliefs about care. “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and it shows.” explains Louise.  “All decisions are made with the customers’ needs at the forefront of every team member. I love working in a team and getting through things together. I knew early on in my career that I wanted to manage a service where I could ensure that the care delivered was to the highest standards possible, and in a way that I would expect my family to be cared for. I am now working for a company that I would choose to look after my own family.”