A CARER, care co-ordinator and registered manager from Worcester have all reached the national finals of a competition run by Bluebird Care, one of the UK's largest providers of homecare services.

Chris Beddis, a care assistant at Bluebird Care, Andy Toon, a registered manager, and Tracey Handy, a support co-ordinator, have all been nominated to represent the West Midlands at the inaugural Bluebird Care Awards in the carer, registered manager and team member sections, having won their various regional categories.

All three were nominated by Bluebird Care Worcester and Wychavon’s owner David Benjamin, beating Bluebird Care employees from across the West Midlands to win the regional awards and gain national nominations.

Their wins mean they will represent the area at the national final at Fortnum and Mason, London, on September 6, where national winners in each category will be decided by an independent panel of judges made up of media, the charity sector and the United Kingdom Homecare Association. The awards ceremony recognises the outstanding contribution carers, registered managers and team members make in improving the lives of Bluebird Care customers.

Bluebird Care chief operating officer Duncan Berry said: “Bluebird Care is privileged to have thousands of extraordinary people providing care and support to our customer’s every day. With so many brilliant nominations to choose from it has not been easy to select our regional winners. However, our regional winners were able to demonstrate truly exceptional qualities and commitment that saw them take their place in the national final. I want to congratulate all of our winners for their dedication to our customers and wish them good luck for the national final.”

The awards follow Bluebird Care’s Every Visit Counts campaign (www.everyvisit.co.uk), launched in July. The campaign raises awareness of the devastating yet silent loneliness epidemic in Britain and highlights the key role that carers and care assistants can play through providing excellent care and companionship.