Care work students scoop prizes in world’s biggest vocational skills competition

It’s not often care workers get recognition for the support they give people every day – let alone win prizes for it, but a competition held  this month aims to change all that.

Competitive environment

A group of 79  health and care work students were asked to demonstrate their skills delivering care in a competitive environment, in a series of written tests and live activities that saw two trainee care workers from Coventry and West Yorkshire come out on top.

The participants had to put together a personal plan for someone with learning disabilities

The participants were asked to work in pairs to assist a person with dementia get up and prepare for their day as part of the WorldSkills UK competition, the biggest vocational skills competition in the world. The winning care workers demonstrated the best planning and preparation, communication, approach, reflection and best practice.

In another activity the participants were required to work alone to discuss the wishes of a person with a learning disability who wants advice on aspects of their daily living.

They had to demonstrate how they would help a dementia patient get ready for the day

Expert judges

The trainee care workers were assessed by a panel of expert judges from across the country on how well they acquitted themselves in a variety of activities devised by recruitment agency, Profiles4Care, to replicate situations they would be expected to face in their day to day work.

Principal of South and City College Birmingham, where the competition was held, Mike Hopkins said he believed the competition helped boost students’ confidence and give them experience for their future career.

Fredrikka Walker won first place in the first heat

The two heats were won by Fredrikka Walker, 20, who is training in Coventry and Fallon Barron, 18, training in West Yorkshire.

Fallon Barron winning first place in the second heat

Barron said: “It was a challenging but fulfilling experience and I still can’t believe it. It’s a whole new experience and I would highly recommend it to everyone.”