www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/ Where’s Ted? BLUEBIRD Lauren met up with Maurice their flight touched down in the and Rita Denyer to hear airport, the community was lined The couples’ children had Ted is hiding CARE their amazing story. Maurice up as flights only landed once a grown up and with life in South receives care from our week. The family were dressed in Africa becoming increasingly in 6 places team which gives their Sunday best. Maurice’s job difficult they decided to move News from Bluebird Care Rita the chance to go out was to programme computers to back to the UK and married and in this Care in YOUR Community Shropshire | Autumn 2017 for a couple of hours. They communicate with other countries started their own families. were happy to share their through networks. It was vital role newsletter. Superhero Day raised A trip down Carers nominated wonderful story with us. during this time and Maurice was Maurice and Rita decided to In this issue: funds for Cash for Kids Memory Lane for Awards Where’s Ted? Lauren at the forefront of these world move back to the UK themselves said she developments. and spend time with their family. Can you spot could have Unfortunately, during this spoken to The couple describe Mauritius as time Maurice’s health began them all? the couple “the most beautiful country with to deteriorate and he was for days! quiet, golden beaches.” They diagnosed with Parkinsons in lived in a company apartment, 2012. Maurice was and had a ‘luxurious’ existence Ted's Adventures Doing our bit to address the shortage of carers born in Dartford, Kent in 1939, with a maid to help with domestic The couple say they have It's a really fantastic package and we becoming senior supervisors and and went to school there until chores and childcare. Rita got enjoyed their time since being Ted has been busy and on his travels again. But now he is aying more, offering benefits, he was 18. to network and attended coffee back in the UK and are so really travelling in style! Shirley Stone, the amazing Nan of Pproviding thorough training want to attract committed people to managers. We've recently introduced He was called up to the RAF mornings and parties and the grateful that they have been Amie Stone our and supervisor, and rewarding our staff – are just this sector, which offers varied and long service awards and anyone when he was 18 and his first couple had a son named Richard able to see their grandchildren has been busy creating Ted his own mini wardrobe! Not only some of the things we are doing really rewarding work, full or part-time who works with us for 12 months or deployment was to Germany in 1970. grow. Maurice misses the climate does he now have his own Bluebird Care uniform he also to encourage more carers to the the hours are flexible to suit people's more will receive a £150 thank you when he was 21 and where of the beautiful countries they has costumes including a Spiderman outfit! Ted’s wardrobe sector. circumstances. Care work is often of their choice - to the theatre, new he met Rita. In the 1973, Maurice’s have been to but they have no is based under the desk of Sammie Milton our Manager’s not seen as good because people car tyres or away for a weekend Because more needs to be done to They courted "the most company closed the office regrets. They say the highlight in Assistant, and nothing makes Sammie happier than think its low paid, with unsocial etc. And then there’s Perk Box!, draw people into the for a few years beautiful country and the family relocated their life journey was ‘Mauritius’ dressing Ted up in his latest new gear. Thank you Shirley!! hours. And that may which offers employees discounts at again – this time to South and their best piece of advice is sector to help with before returning to with quiet, "It's a really fantastic be true for some, but supermarkets, restaurants and shops, Africa, on the outskirts of a deficit of carers. in 1963 golden beaches" “Never look back in regret and package and we want at Bluebird Care, we free mobile insurance and even free where they were Durban. Here Maurice make the most of every day, as We have recently to attract committed have put together a pay meditation. married. gained a more superior role you never know when life can significantly increased people to this sector" and perks package that and travelled a lot across the change.” Happy to HELP pay and offer extra There is a genuine shortage of care rewards our staff better. Maurice’s first job was as a country, leaving Rita at home to perks. workers for vulnerable people who And seeing the joy you can bring to computer technician and Rita tend to a young family in an area If you want to contact us, for any reason, you can find all of our contact need help, but can't access it, and We are working hard to attract people the life of a vulnerable person is very began training at Stonehouse with high levels of crime. During information below. So please keep it in a safe place! there is huge and growing issue with to the care sector to enable more rewarding. We offer thorough training Hospital in Dartford as a this time Rita was held hostage at bed blocking where people have to psychiatric nurse. Rita had to gun point in a local pet store! But people to access the care they need with on-going support and encourage Write to us or visit us at: Call us on: stay in hospital longer as there are give up her nursing training the couple lived a comfortable life and prevent hospital bed blocking, qualifications and further training. We not enough qualified people to help when they moved to Langford, here and even built a swimming Bluebird Care Shropshire, : 01743 874 343 especially with the elderly. You might have put a robust career pathway in and support them recover at home. where Maurice continued pool. Oswestry: 01691 749 128 have heard Ian Barnes on Radio place and have seen carers climb 3 The Parade, So join us and help avert a crisis in his career and they had a Church Stretton: 01694 259 065 Shropshire talking about our plans or the ranks from starting with us, Lansdowne Road, Bayston Hill, Shropshire. daughter, Katherine. In 1998, Maurice was made : 01939 768 031 even seen him on Midlands Today from starting with no experience to redundant from his management Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Ellesmere: 01691 749 128 recently. In the late 1960s, the economy role and the couple decided to SY3 0HT dropped and the family had create an income themselves. Email: [email protected] Senior care workers working a 40 to look further afield for work. Rita had always had a passion for Website: www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/shropshire hour week can earn up to £20,000pa, Maurice came across an advert craft so they began a commercial pay rates have increased by 7% for for a computer technician in knitting/embroidery business, those under 25, while those over 25 Mauritius, an unknown island which was extremely successful with care experience will receive a in the Indian Ocean. When for 10 years! A typical RAF pilot from Our Partners: 10% pay rise and earn £9per hour. around the 1950s Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, Also, we have raised our fuel mileage Severn Hospice, allowance by 20% from 25p to 30p The Mayfair Centre Church Stretton. per mile. Director of Care, Claire Flavell and Managing Director of Bluebird Care Ian Barnes.

BlueBird_Newsletter_OUTLINED_September_110917_v6.indd 1-3 11/09/2017 15:13 News in Brief Spotlight on our carers Baby News! We recently nominated two of our care workers to Daryl Ashton our Shrewsbury the Co-op National Care Awards and we want to Supervisor welcomed baby Holly give them some of the recognition we think they Ashton into the world on 29th deserve - Meryl Hughes, from our Oswestry team March at 12:26am. Holly weighed and Sylvie Harley from Church Stretton. 6lb 2oz!

Meryl started working for Bluebird Kirsty Holland our Care Landscape across the Severn Stride Care in 2013. Since then she has Manager in Shrewsbury had baby been a valuable member of our Franklin William Eric Holland Supporting Severn Hospice Oswestry team and is now also on 19th May 2017 at 2:55am and We support a lot of charity and Hospice in Shrewsbury to the Hospice in . a highly respected senior carer. he weighed 7lb 6oz! national awareness day events here Some of our team also volunteered by providing Meryl is one of those people to Massive congratulations at Bluebird Care. refreshments to walkers at the half way mark. whom caring comes so naturally Sammie Milton and Care Assistant Sue Fisher have and will truly go above and beyond But this year we have chosen to focus on one also signed themselves up to take part in the world’s Oswestry team expands The incredible shrinking Ian Meryl Hughes for her customers. charity and after asking the team their thoughts, fastest zip wire to raise funds in September. You can Care Manager Ross Hardstaff has We'll be seeing a lot less of our Managing Director Ian! After a recent trip we have agreed on supporting The Severn sponsor them at www.justgiving.com/sammie-milton Sylvie has been part of our Church joined our Oswestry team. Ross to a retreat in Sweden Ian lost 9kgs in 9 days with lots of exercise and Hospice! We will be fundraising on behalf of them Stretton team since January We are also sponsoring the ‘colour run’ event in previously worked as a Senior Care by eating an in-depth diet. The weight loss has enabled Ian to reduce his and working alongside them in regards to training. 2016. She has a huge heart and June 2018 and throwing blue paint on the runners Assistant, working with children with medication and he has successfully lowered his blood sugar to a level On 9th September some of our team took part always goes the extra mile for her and entering runners in the event ourselves! challenging behaviour and has also which meant he could stop insulin injections. Ian also took part in lots of in the Severn Stride, an 18 mile walk from the customers. We have had great previously supported adults with yoga and meditation and said it was something he would do again! feedback from district nurses and learning difficulties. GP's on how Sylvie really does put Daryl & Holly Kirsty & Franklin Sylvie Harley her all into her work.

Superhero Day! In June we held a Superhero Day to raise “The thought of funds for Cash for Kids. The charity re-training for a job responds to the needs of children in our Thank you to our customers who take the time to give us such communities so they can live life to the full was intimidating lovely feedback. This time one of our carers, Lauren Adams is and realise their individual potential. Based particularly praised. We are glad we could be of service. but the team made across 22 areas in the UK, it supports the experience so children aged 0-18 who are disabled, disadvantaged enjoyable.” or suffering Jane Middle, Care Assistant, from abuse or Bluebird Care Shropshire neglect. Here are our lovely Bayston Hill office team, (from left top, Our ‘superhero’ bottom to middle with: Ceri ‘Wonder Woman’ Eades, Amie Director of Care, ‘Catwoman’ Stone, Laura ‘Batwoman’ Woodhouse, Claire Claire Flavell ‘She-Ra’ Gwilliam, Beth ‘Wonderwoman’ Newton, Stacy took raising funds ‘Superwoman’ Arthur and Sammie ‘Robin’ Milton. You can see for Free Radio’s some of the children’s fantastic pictures up in our office. Cash for Kids to new heights and Super Postie Justin We also gave prizes to local children from Bayston Call today to even took her outfit Hill for their fantastic colouring-in a competition we Putting Care into your Career find out more to Prague! Even Justin, our Bayston Hill Office ran. In total we raised an impressive £56.85! Please contact us to find out more about how the Bluebird Care 01743 874343 postie got involved AS ‘Super Postie!’ Career Journey can work for you. 01691 749128 bluebirdcare.co.uk/shropshire

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