Rising care star receives inaugural Director’s Award after saving client’s life
A young Care Professional who performed lifesaving CPR when a client suffered a medical emergency has become the first recipient of Home Instead Portsmouth’s Director’s Award for Exceptional Care.
Rubie Kirbie, one of the newest and youngest members of the Home Instead Portsmouth team, remained calm during the emergency and immediately began CPR. Her swift response helped to save the client’s life, and the client continues to recover well.
The newly established Director’s Award for Exceptional Care recognises a member of the team whose actions demonstrate an extraordinary level of courage, compassion and commitment. Rubie was chosen as its inaugural recipient in recognition not only of her response during the emergency, but also of the remarkable progress she has made since joining the company.
Like many people beginning their first role in care, Rubie needed time and encouragement to find her feet. Since then, she has grown in confidence and demonstrated that she has all the qualities needed to build an exceptional career in care.
Helen Brown, Director and Nominated Individual at Home Instead Portsmouth, said: “Rubie’s actions were quite simply extraordinary. Faced with an incredibly frightening situation, she remained calm, drew upon her training and acted without hesitation. There is no doubt that her actions helped to save her client’s life.
“What makes this especially meaningful is the journey Rubie has made since joining us. She found some aspects of the role challenging at first, but she listened, learned and allowed us to support her as her confidence grew. She has shown tremendous resilience and potential, and to say she is a star in the making would be an understatement.
“We created the Director’s Award for Exceptional Care to recognise those moments when a member of our team goes far beyond what could ordinarily be expected. I cannot think of a more deserving first recipient.”
Home Instead Portsmouth provides personalised home care across Portsmouth and the surrounding communities. Its Care Professionals receive extensive training and ongoing support to equip them to respond confidently to the wide range of situations they may encounter while supporting clients in their own homes.
Helen added:
“We are enormously proud of Rubie, but this story also demonstrates why high-quality training, encouragement and belief in people matter. Sometimes someone simply needs the opportunity and the right support to reveal what they are capable of. Rubie has certainly done that.”