Paragon skills for industry

Debbie Sherwood at Lyme Regis Nursing Home

Debbie Sherwood, who lives in Bridport, has been cooking up a treat for the residents of Lyme Regis Nursing Home.

Debbie, 30, has worked at the nursing home for three years. She loved her job as a carer but when a position became available in the kitchen she jumped at the chance of broadening her skills and becoming the cook.

A year later and Debbie has successfully completed a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in food processing and cooking, level two, with the guidance of Paragon Skills for Industry.

Debbie comments: “I love learning and developing my skills and I’m very proud of achieving an NVQ. When I first started the training in February 2007 I knew the basics of cooking, but now I can cook a wide variety of food as well as knowing how to use all the right equipment and ensure I am following the correct health and safety procedures.

“It is great to be able to give the residents the food they like and even make them fresh home-made cakes on their birthdays. The nursing home has a great atmosphere and my cooking adds to the feeling of it being one big family.” Debbie cooks three meals a day for the 20 residents of the nursing home so the skills she has learned are essential to help her cope with the planning and stock ordering as well as the cooking itself.

Debbie is full of praise for the support that Paragon provided throughout his apprenticeship: “Paragon has provided me with the opportunity to broaden my skills so that I can work in the kitchen whilst staying in the nursing home I love. I now have a nationally recognised qualification which really shows the hard work I have put in to reach such high standards.”