Bluebird Care’s Franchise Support Centre has been shortlisted in two categories as part of the prestigious Home Care Awards 2020: Innovative Technology Expertise and Team Support Expertise.

The Home Care Awards are the benchmark for business and service excellence in the UK home care sector. They praise care providers that are making a difference by looking to raise industry standards. The awards lunch and ceremony will be held at the National Convention Centre in Birmingham on Tuesday 17 March.

Bluebird Care has been selected as a finalist in the Innovation Technology Expertise category for their pioneering approach utilising digital and artificial technology to transform social care. In 2019, Bluebird Care launched a Health and Wellbeing Checks Service that involves specially trained care champions generating vital check scores for customers using a carefully designed toolkit. The customer’s progress is then recorded in a matrix that is helping to bridge the gap between health and social care, providing a personalised and consistent care service to all customers, as well as striving to alleviate some of the burden on the NHS.

Last year, Bluebird Care also launched their Staff Guide App that is dubbed a “toolbox” for their staff, and can be accessed via any mobile device. The app, developed by Bluebird Care’s Quality and Compliance Team, allows staff to instantly access information, videos and advice, ensuring that on-hand training and guidance is available throughout the Bluebird Care network.

Bluebird Care has also been shortlisted within the Team Support Expertise category, which reflects the impressive total of 300 years of industry experience that Bluebird Care’s Franchise Support Centre staff members have collectively acquired. This includes accredited qualifications, experience working for the Care Quality Commission and franchising expertise. To ensure this expertise is replicated throughout Bluebird Care’s network, they launched their own Training Academy, which consists of several CPD accredited courses aimed at giving Bluebird Care team members the opportunity to further develop their skills in customer care, customer service, finance and first aid.

Yvonne Hignell, Managing Director of Bluebird Care, said: “Bluebird Care are immensely proud of this great achievement. Being shortlisted in two categories pays tribute to our innovative approach and forward thinking ideas, which really help to improve the lives of our customers, as well as benefit our team members.

“We at the Bluebird Care Franchise Support Centre will continue to use our expertise and experience to develop pioneering social care initiatives. In fact, we are excited to launch a new product this year which will see a tablet function act as an automated carer when Bluebird Care staff are not there. Watch this space.”