The latest group of Kingdom Support & Care staff have successfully gained their SVQ Awards in Social Services and Healthcare and their Professional Development Awards in Health and Social Care Supervision.

The recently qualified staff attended a celebratory lunch with Kingdom’s management representatives.

Bill Banks, Kingdom’s Group chief executive, presented the certificates to the staff and said: “At Kingdom, we encourage learning development and everyone who has gained their qualification should be extremely proud of the achievement.”

Bill congratulated the staff and thanked everyone for dedicating the required time to study and gain the qualifications.

Senior support worker, Kevin O’Neill, who achieved his Professional Development Award in Health and Social Care Supervision, said: “I’m really pleased to have achieved my PDA, it was hard work. I would like to thank Care Now and the Management team for their support in helping me to achieve my award.”

Norah Smith, director of Kingdom Support & Care, who also attended the celebratory event, congratulated the staff and said: “The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Register for Support Workers opened in October. I am delighted the staff who have gained their awards will be some of the first Support Workers to register their new qualifications.”

Norah added: “We consistently have high numbers of staff achieving their awards. Due to growth in the services we provide, it is more important than ever that we continue to support staff to gain a professional qualification, as part of our ongoing learning and development strategy.”

Support worker Susan Briggs said: “I have enjoyed doing the award and I look forward to using my new skills in my role as a Support Worker with Kingdom Support & Care.”

Frances Howie, area manager, added: “I am very proud of the staff. I recognise that studying for qualifications can be time consuming and challenging, particularly when everyone is doing this whilst working and balancing studies with work and family commitments.”

The staff who recently gained their SVQ qualification were Claire Anderson, Jacqueline Bell, Susan Briggs, Laura Cowan, Mark Cummings, Charlotte Forrest, Robert Gray, Andrew Kaye, Jennifer Kennedy, Ali McKenzie and Julie Wallace. Kevin O’Neill gained his Professional Development Award in Health and Social Care Supervision.