A group of Kingdom Support and Care staff were presented with their SVQ certificates last week by Kingdom’s chief executive Bill Banks at a buffet lunch in Kingdom premises.

Presenting the awards, Bill Banks said: “Congratulations to members of the Support & Care team on their achievements, it is fantastic to see staff continuing to gain professional qualifications. It can be difficult for staff to work and complete a qualification at the same time and well done to the group for achieving this.”

Senior support worker, Michaela Aydin, achieved her Professional Development Award in Health and Social Care Supervision while support workers, Jim Tolson, Bea Farmer, Lynn Russell, Urszula Gryz, Megan McManamon, Chantelle Giandrea and Ashleigh Maciver successfully completed their SVQ2 Award in Social Services and Healthcare.

Michaela Aydin said: “I was initially terrified of doing my PDA Award but with the support from Care Now, I really enjoyed it and completed it within 3 months. I would like to do my SVQ4 in the future.”

Jim Tolson, a support worker at James Bank and James Bank Outreach, added: “Because of my experience working with different individuals on a day to day basis, I found I had a variety of experience to reflect on. I look forward to the opportunity of being able to do SVQ3 in the future.”

Bea Farmer, also a support worker at James Bank and James Bank Outreach, said: “I have not come from a background in care, and received excellent support from my Care Now Assessor, my coordinator and senior support worker to achieve my award. The award very much focuses on what I do in my day to day work.”

Lynn, a Support Worker at Rosyth service, said: “Thank you for the opportunity to gain an SVQ, I was new to support work, and I love my job, and enjoyed doing my SVQ award. The training I have had is by far the best in any job.”

Urszula, support worker at Collydean service, explained: “Doing my SVQ has given me the opportunity to see things in a different way and to think differently and has helped me in my job.”

Support workers Megan McManamon, Chantelle Giandrea and Ashleigh Maciver were unable to attend the presentation.

Norah Smith, director, who also attended the celebratory event, said: “I am very pleased staff are continuing to achieve their SVQ awards, which benefits the individuals we support, families, the staff member themselves, and the organisation to raise standards of care. We have an ongoing programme of undertaking vocational qualifications in line with our SVQ training strategy. This enables staff to meet the required standard for registering with the Scottish Social Services Council.”

Norah added: “We have a succession planning strategy in place and I am delighted to see staff are looking to achieve a higher qualification to give them the opportunity to move into more senior roles within the organisation.”

Shona Laird, Support and Care manager, also attending the presentation, added: “The Scottish Social Services Council opened the register for Support Workers in October 2017, and we are well on our way to having all our Support Workers on a professional register.”