SEVEN Healthcare Assistants from Stroud General and the Vale Community Hospitals who have recently been awarded Care Certificates.

The group have been part of a 12-week training and development pro-gramme, learning the skills and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and quality care.

Certificates are awarded to those in healthcare roles who have demonstrated they meet each of the 15 Care Certificate standards, including caring with privacy and dignity, awareness of mental health (including dementia and learning difficulties), safeguarding and infection control.

The group received their certificates and badges from Sue Field, director of nursing, in the post-graduate room at Stroud General Hospital.

Sue said: “The certificate marks the start of something new, and I know our HCAs are really making a positive difference on the wards with their colleagues and especially with patient care.”

Pauline Cox, training and development facilitator (Stroud) and Julie Lerigo, training and development sister (the Vale) have provided support and advice along the way.

Julie said: “We feel extremely lucky to work with such wonderful HCAs, it has been wonderful to watch them develop and grow.”

Some of the HCAs will now go on to do their nurse training, apply for a Nursing Associate role, or start an apprenticeship.

Health care assistants who received their certificates are Uta Baldauf, Jessica Fisher, Cidalia Goncalves, Teresa Harrison, Donna Hawker, Lauren Hayward and Lorna Mankee