A simulation training suite that is geared to provide staff with an extremely high standard of hands-on training, has been built at the Bluebird Care Rother and Hastings office, on Cinque Ports Street.
The suite, named Bluebird Cottage, which was officially opened on Friday June 29 by Rye Deputy Mayor Councillor Rebekah Gilbert, forms a micro environment and mimics the type of situation that Bluebird Care staff face every day. It is equipped with a key safe, hospital bed, hoist and relevant potential hazards including household furniture and rugs.
Bluebird Cottage is modelled on a Bluebird Care customer and the care plan is created around their life to help give that real-life experience.
Bluebird Care Rother and Hastings’ Registered Manager, Karen Chandler, said:
“The training room was an idea that I had with our Training Manager Amy late one evening after a rather long week. I must confess I am not entirely sure how it started, but it was a small idea that kind of snowballed.
“We were thinking about the training we wanted to provide and how we could improve it then went from there. Training is generally provided in quite a clinical environment with PowerPoint presentations or notes and this is not the same as our staff experience in the community.
“We wanted to provide the training in an environment that was a lot closer to what they will experience.”
Equipment was kindly donated by St Michael’s Hospice, with whom Bluebird Care Rother and Hastings are proud to be working closely with. Bluebird Care Rother and Hastings donated £100 to the Hospice as a token of their appreciation.
Director, Sai Visakan, explained:
“Our team have worked incredibly hard to get this suite ready for its launch and we are particularly excited because this is something we believe is ground-breaking certainly with domiciliary care providers local to us and quite possibly even in the UK.
“I would particularly like to thank Councillor Rebekah Gilbert, Rye Deputy Mayor, who opened our suite and extend a special thank you to Emma Harmer at St Michael’s Hospice who helped us to source all of the items we needed.”
Chloe Mahtani, Learning and Development Manager at Bluebird Care’s Franchise Support Centre, said:
“It’s brilliant to see new and innovative training initiatives across the network. The team at Bluebird Care Rother and Hastings have made a unique and immersive environment to help employees really understand what working in a customer’s home can be like. The new training suite is well designed, thought out and can really provide that essential hands on experience needed to make carers feel comfortable and confident in their role.”
Photo: Bluebird Care