Triumph For West Midlands Care Workers At Worldskills UK Caring Competition
South and City College Birmingham hosted the first two heats for the West Midlands region WorldSkills UK 2014 Health and Social Care Competitions on 13 and 14 May 2014.This years’ competitions are sponsored by Profiles4 Care and the NHS Leadership Academy.
The heats have enabled 32 of the 104 competitors who registered to compete from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, to demonstrate their excellent skills in delivering health care whilst in a competitive environment.
Heat 1 on 13 May saw some fantastic skills being delivered by competitors, with person centred care being demonstrated throughout. The following were the worthy winners:
1st place: Reanna Harper (18) from South Devon College, currently studying Health and Social Care level 3 advanced diploma, whilst working at Margaret Clitherow House for residential care. She was chosen by her tutors to enter this year’s WorldSkills UK.
2nd place: Megan Bailey-Earl (16) also studying at level 3 in South Devon College, works in residential care at The Grange Lea residential care home in Paignton.
3rd place: Ashley Irvine (18) from CWT Chamber Training was also chosen by his tutors to enter this year’s WorldSkills UK.
Heat 2 on 14 May saw further examples of excellence with the following competitors achieving:
1st place: Krysia Knox (19), currently studying at Stoke on Trent College, was chosen by her tutors to enter this year’s WorldSkills UK.
2nd place: James Groocock (19) from South Leicestershire College, studying Year 1 BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Health & Social care.
3rd place: Tamara Roberts (20) from Coleg Llandrillo Cymru was also chosen by her tutors to enter this year’s WorldSkills UK.
Health and social care students and staff from South and City College Birmingham also played a central role in the competition.
Mike Hopkins, Principal of South and City College said:
“We are delighted that the West Midlands heat of this competition has been held at our college. We have been very impressed by the competitors and I congratulate them all on how much effort they have put in and how professional they have been.
“At the college we believe that competitions help boost students’ confidence, whilst also giving them an excellent experience.
“Good luck to the South and City College students, and the other students, who are still to compete.”
Reanna Harper said:
“It feels fantastic to win, it was such a surprise! The whole day was a really good experience. The highlight of the day for me was the scenarios and getting into the situation, I really enjoyed it.”
James Groocock enthused: “I feel pretty amazing – it’s a real confidence boost, something to write about. I really enjoyed meeting and working with the other competitors, there was a real synergy between us that really helped with the nerves”.
Tamara Roberts also said: “I feel fantastic, like I’ve really achieved something, I didn’t think I could do it. The highlight for me was the learning difficulties scenario, this is an area I enjoy and I feel like I can learn a lot from”.
Debbie Sorkin, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Social Care, said:
“The expertise and leadership demonstrated by our frontline care workers has once again been a pleasure to observe. To see competitors confidently showing what they can do when supporting people is a privilege. Health and social care has a lot to look forward to from the people who have taken part in this competition.”
Making the awards, Lead Judge Pat Pearson said:
“WorldSkills just gets better and better as a competition and a real showcase for how well social care is carried out. It was a pleasure to observe such committed competitors taking part in this heat at South and City College Birmingham and to award prizes to some outstanding care workers and students.”
For more information on WorldSkills, please contact mark.poland@nsasocialcare.co.uk or go to www.nsasocialcare.co.uk/worldskills
