Top prize for Southern Cross at the WorldSkills UK Caring Competitions final

The exciting event was hosted by the National Skills Academy for Social Care at Coin Street Community Centre with ten skilled care workers competing in devised role-play scenarios.

The coveted Gold Medal was won by Hayley Gibbs, who works for Southern Cross at Memory House in Leigh-on-Sea She was praised by judges for going above and beyond the usual standards of care delivery.

Hayley said, “I was so pleased that I won - I couldn't believe it! It’s made me feel I am now ready to further my career as I have always wanted to continue being a care manager for a while longer, but I realise now I can do more to help. It is very rewarding helping people live with Dementia...as well as teaching staff skills and watching them put what you've taught them in to practice.”

Jennifer Bernard, lead judge, commented that, “To raise the status of social care, it has to be visible in a positive way - and that's what the Caring Competition aims to do. All of the finalists were good, but Hayley brings a certain energy, which shows in her personality but doesn't dominate the relationship with the person she's supporting.”

Skills Academy Chief Executive Diane Lawson also commented that, “Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event we have again seen extraordinarily high standards of care delivered by the competitors. We are so proud of these ambassadors for excellent care and are looking forward to competing in our first global world skills competition in October.”

Other winners were: 

Bronze 

Julie Kidds, Allcare

Bronze  

Jayne Farrow – Preston College

Highly Commended 

Deborah Holden – Preston College

 Highly Commended 

Laura Slack – Blackpool and the Fylde College

About the National Skills Academy for Social Care 

• The Skills Academy is an employer-led membership organisation focused on leadership, management, commissioning and modelling excellence in learning and training, in the adult social care sector.
• The WorldSkills UK Caring Competitions are part of its role in raising the profile of social care.
• The competitions have been open to applications from anyone working in, or training for, the social care sector over the age of 16, with the Skills Academy receiving applications from interested individuals from all over the country. 

About WorldSkills UK  

• WorldSkills UK is the name for the UK’s premier set of skills competitions. These competitions are open to all ages
• Competitions run every year in around 70 skills within five main sectors: Built Environment; Cultural and Creative Arts; Engineering; Information Technology and Business Administration; Professional, Social, Public and Hospitality Services
• In 2009, over 4,000 people registered to enter a WorldSkills UK competition
• Outstanding WorldSkills UK national finalists may be considered for inclusion in Squad and Team UK at WorldSkills – the biggest international skills competition in the world
• A large proportion of the International competitors that represent the UK at WorldSkills come through the WorldSkills UK competition framework
• For more information about the competition visit www.worldskills.org