Our Covid Hero

Can you train someone to care?

“Values are what we believe in- they matter because they affect what we do and how we treat people, ensuring good professional workplace behaviours.”

At Bluebird Care Wakefield and Kirklees, we look for care workers who have an essential skill set. However, of equal importance is the outlook of employees which must be focused upon the quality of care they provide, showing they respect independence, enable choice, and uphold dignity and respect.

From recruitment to their time throughout the company, staff are expected, supported, and encouraged to recognise and demonstrate the desired values and behaviour.

2021 was a year to be proud of. Our staff were recognised for many achievements. Over the next few weeks, in honour of Employee Appreciation Day today, we want to share these with you.

Janice Hislop - Our Covid Hero

We will start first with Janice Hislop, who during the pandemic worked relentlessly, reassuring not only the care workers but also customers. She contacted all our customers, identified those at risk of social isolation, and ensured additional companionship check-ins were in place. 

She trained all our carers on infection control, supported their understanding of the ever-changing guidance, and even created a training video on how to safely put on and take off PPE. This was also then shared with a local Multi Academy Trust, reaching 250 teaching staff. She had the skill of translating complicated guidance, so it was accessible and signposted staff to the right place for either financial or well-being support. She worked tirelessly to source PPE in the early days and created contamination free PPE boxes for customers’ home. 

Furthermore, when hand gel and soap was very scarce, she packed bags for each carer containing these essential products and more. She organised for these to be delivered and made sure our staff had these vital and hard to get hold of items to help them in their day to day living.

Janice works across both our Wakefield and Kirklees territories, and some days has travelled over 50 miles to ensure our staff and customers’ needs are met. In her very little spare time, she has also been volunteering for Red Cross and the NHS.

Her initiative, enthusiasm, professionalism, and can-do positive attitude has reassured all our staff and customers. We are truly amazed at her energy.  

To find out more about Janice, head over to our Meet the Team page!