Bluebird Care staff to get bespoke training from NRC

Northern Regional College will deliver free end of life care training for Bluebird Care staff through the Department for the Economy’s Skills Focus Programme.

The Department for Economy has made upskilling and reskilling training a priority to close identified skills gaps and help grow the economy.

Skills Focus training, which is 100% funded and will be available until March 2022, facilitates collaborative working between business and further education colleges including Northern Regional College to provide bespoke training for businesses to meet their specific needs.

Bluebird Care, which has offices in Coleraine, Holywood and Lisburn and Down, works with individuals and families who require personalised care in their own homes.

Marie Donaghy, Business Development Manager at Northern Regional College’s Coleraine campus, explained that the College had been working closely with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust to develop the training.

She explained: “With so many health and social care professionals and their families directly affected by the pandemic, we have been working in close collaboration with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s palliative care team to identify best practice and develop content in this accredited qualification for those working or interested in developing skills in end-of-life care.

“We piloted a 12-week course in end-of-Life care last term, to provide additional support for families and professionals. This was well received, and further provision is planned.

“The course content is relevant for anyone providing end-of-life care and support in health, residential, domiciliary care and palliative care settings so we were able to tailor it to suit the specific needs of Bluebird Care staff.

“Thanks to the Skills Focus initiative funding, we can deliver the accredited course to Bluebird staff online and help close what has been identified as skills gap.”

Health and Social Care lecturer Anne-Marie McAleese will deliver the Palliative Care course to Bluebird Care staff throughout Northern Ireland from early October.