Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Caring Mears staff are a qualified success
IAN BUNTING
Six staff members at the Coatbridge office of care-athome provider Mears have achieved SVQ qualifications in care.
The group’s success was even more impressive as they had to combine their studies with fulltime work.
The SVQ certificates will become a legal requirement of working in the care sector from next April.
Julie Elliot, SVQ development manager for Mears in Scotland, said: “Professional development has always been important to us as a care provider.
“And we have always strived to develop effective knowledge, skills and values across our team members; it’s an important investment in our people.”
Mears is one of the biggest providers of care- at- home in Scotland and places quality of delivery at the top of their service.
Local manager Nyree Doyle said: “It can be quite a challenge for someone to go back to learning and passing exams or continuous assessment in adult life.
“So, it’s a great achievement when these qualifications are attained, and I am extremely proud of all our staff who have worked so hard to get to this point.
“Quite often someone may have little confidence about how they are going to study and pass exams, but it can be a real confidence booster when they pass.
“The new legislation gives our service users and their families confidence in our ability to deliver the best service, and trust in what good care can give.”
All care workers are legally obliged to register with the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC) within the first six months of their employment.
This commits them to post registration training and learning requirements.
Julie added: “For a large company like ours, it is easier for us to have an educational framework for our teams.
“With over 3500 people supported by us every week, it has always been our business strategy to ensure our staff have the best possible training and can work towards qualifications,”