PRESS RELEASE

Aspiring young care professionals from across the UK battled it out for the prestigious place in the UK finals of World Skills at the UK Caring Regional heat at Exeter College last week.

Nine shortlisted competitors, all currently studying level 3 courses in health and social care, were put through their paces in front of judges from across the south west including care home managers, curriculum managers, assessors and external verifiers from World Skills.

“We are delighted that World Skills chose Exeter College to host the south west heat of the competition,” said Katherine Coates, head of health, care and public services at Exeter College. “The caring profession has long awaited recognition for its professionalism and its exciting career opportunities. This competition celebrated all that is exceptional about caring and the World Skills competition will raise the profile of caring professionals in the region and in Exeter in particular.”

And Exeter College had something even more to celebrate when Hannah Greenslade, the College representative gained first place, beating off fellow hopefuls from Berkshire and Weston to second and third place. Hannah, 17 from Tiverton said “It was a tough competition which tested both the practical and theoretical knowledge and skills that we’ll need to succeed in the industry. I was really surprised to win against the other competitors. It was great to see and hear about the experiences of others – quite inspirational. I’m hoping to go onto university to do adult nursing and specialise in mental health care. This experience has been brilliant”

Activities during the day included challenging scenarios set to test domiciliary care skills of a patient suffering from a stroke, designing a healthy eating programme and promotion for adults with learning difficulties plus written examinations on hyperthermia and pain management. All the activities were judged by a panel from across the south west, culminating in an awards ceremony presented by the city’s new Deputy Mayor Kevin Mitchell – one of his first ceremonial duties of his busy year. “I am delighted to celebrate this competition since, as a nurse myself, I understand the skills and knowledge needed in the caring profession. It is great to see young professionals being put through their paces and being so enthusiastic”

Claudette Harrower the Manager of Highlands Care Home, which specializes in Dementia Care, was one of the panel of judges and said “I am an avid supporter of young professionals coming into all aspects of the care sector and this challenging competition mirrors and highlights the stringent training that the care industry now requires. I’m delighted that World Skills has come to Exeter, since I’m passionate that this important industry and the committed staff receive the recognition it so rightly deserves. Dementia Care, especially, can be challenging and very rewarding, and needs very special skills. I have been so impressed with these young carers since they already demonstrate many of the skills so vital to our growing professional care sector. As we head towards an aging population of Post War Baby Boomers we will need all the excellent young carers we can get, and The World Skills competition is an excellent place to start to demonstrate the quality that anyone needing care should expect to experience”.

For further information, call Sylvia Jarman on 01392 205585 or sylviajarman@exe-coll.ac.uk

Picture caption l-r
Winners of regional WorldSkills UK Caring competition Kaitlyn Gray, Weston College 3rd place; Hannah Greenslade, Exeter College 1st place; Tracy Park NTQUK, Berkshire 2nd place

Editor’s Note
Following the UK regional heat, winners will go through to the UK finals and, if chosen will represent the UK in the World Skills finals in Germany in 2013
The Skills Academy is an employer-led membership organisation focused on leadership, management, commissioning and modeling 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
WorldSkills UK is the name for the UK’S premier set of skills competitions, open to all ages. In 2009, over 4,000 people registered to enter a WorldSkills UK competition.
For further information about the National Skills Academy for Social Care, visit www.nsasocialcare.co.uk
For more information about the competition visit http://www.worldskills.org