Impact Futures apprentice in LeicestershireLive Care Professional of the Year Awards success

Bluebird Care apprentice Peter Doughty was shortlisted for an award at the LeicestershireLive Care Professional of the Year Awards 2022 in the category of Domiciliary/Community Care Professional/Personal Assistant of the Year.

Peter was nominated by his employer Bluebird Care for an exceptionally high standard of care provision and his willingness to go ‘above and beyond’ for his clients.

The LeicestershireLive Care Professional of the Year Awards celebrates the skills, values, and dedication of the care and support professionals who work across the region.

Peter is currently undertaking the level 2 Adult Care Worker apprenticeship after an 11 year care career. The apprenticeship helps learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to deliver high-quality care.

A dedication to work, clients and learning

Peter Doughty works as a carer at Bluebird Care in addition to his full-time week-day office role. Following the experience of caring for his grandfather, Peter decided to go into the sector to make a real difference to people's lives. Peter commented:

"Making a difference is all I want to do."

Peter’s nominations referenced his enthusiasm when caring for clients: Peter regularly does fish and chip runs for one person, takes another to football games, and walks another’s friend home in the evenings.

The Bluebird Care franchise provides home care for adults, specialist care for conditions such as dementia, and access to assistive technology. In his role, Peter looks after clients ranging between 22 to 103 years old, and applies the same principle to each of them; treat every client as you would wish to be treated, and treat them as if they were family.

Peter has benefitted from the flexible environment of an apprenticeship and the support of his dedicated tutor, Lucy, who helps him schedule his learning around his other commitments and offers him guidance. Peter commented:

“The tutor is just brilliant; she will give me advice. If I can’t do it, or I am too tired, she will reschedule for the next week.”

The flexibility of an apprenticeship has allowed him to continue in his paid employment while allowing him to further develop his skills.

The awards

In a virtual ceremony held on 10 February 2022, nine carers received awards from 32 care professionals shortlisted. The 13 award categories, each representing one area of care, included Palliative Care Professional of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Inspired to Care Award, and more.

The awards are currently in their 10^th year of existence, and  this year welcomed sponsors Lawson-West Solicitors and Inspired to Care. When asked about the awards, Peter commented:

"I did a video and a photoshoot, they asked about my career, how long I had been doing it for – it was very professional."

Does Peter's success story inspire you? Explore our adult care apprenticeship vacancies.