Celebrating care careers at The Old Vicarage

Realise and Harbour Healthcare came together for a day of learning, celebration and plenty of ice cream.

The Realise Health and Social Care Partnerships Team recently visited The Old Vicarage, part of Harbour Healthcare, to meet staff and showcase the learning and development opportunities available to them.

Throughout the day, the team was on hand to speak with employees about their ambitions, answer questions and explain how training could help them progress their careers at Harbour Healthcare and across the wider social care sector.

The event gave staff the opportunity to explore different development routes and consider the next step in their careers. Whether looking to build confidence in their current role, develop specialist knowledge or work towards a leadership position, colleagues were encouraged to think about what they would like to achieve and how Realise could support them.

The number of employees who registered their interest in further training following the event demonstrated the team’s enthusiasm for continued learning and career development.

Sarah Powell, Deputy Manager at The Old Vicarage, said:

“It was a proud moment to see how many members of our team signed up. The day was informative, well-paced and, most importantly, kept our staff at the forefront.

“The Realise team gave our colleagues confidence and encouragement, and it has filled me with hope that this will be a long-lasting, positive and meaningful partnership. We genuinely look forward to this new chapter and to working and achieving together.”

A special visit from the Mayor of Warrington

The team was also delighted to welcome the Mayor of Warrington, who was given a tour of The Old Vicarage and spent time meeting members of staff, residents and their families.

The visit provided an opportunity to celebrate the important contribution made by care professionals and to see first-hand the dedication, compassion and sense of community found throughout the home.

Julie Taylor, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Realise, said:

“It was a privilege to spend time with the fantastic team, residents and families at The Old Vicarage. The passion and commitment shown by the staff was clear throughout the day.

“Our partnership is about giving people meaningful opportunities to develop, progress and build rewarding careers in social care. We want every colleague to recognise the value of the work they do and feel confident about taking their next step. Seeing so many people interested in learning and development was incredibly encouraging.”

A well-deserved treat

Of course, no celebration would be complete without a treat! Realise arranged for TikTok sensation JJ’s Ices to visit the home and serve ice creams to staff, residents and family members.

The ice creams went down brilliantly, with some people even returning for seconds and thirds. Alongside the frozen treats, there were plenty of orange Realise goodies to enjoy, including our fabulous Health and Social Care sunglasses.

The day was designed not only to share information but also to recognise the hard work of everyone at The Old Vicarage. The relaxed atmosphere brought people together, encouraged conversations and gave colleagues the chance to celebrate everything they achieve for the people they support.

Sarah added:

“The ice creams went down a treat and instantly lifted the mood and camaraderie across the whole team. We received wonderful feedback from staff and residents, who all agreed that it was a great and informative day.”

The visit marked an exciting new chapter in the partnership between Realise and Harbour Healthcare, built around a shared commitment to harnessing talent, developing people, supporting career progression and celebrating the incredible work taking place across social care.