Page 11 - Community Living Magazine 33-4

special report: coronavirus

a change from their usual meals and were
eating lobster and duck à l’orange instead.
As lockdown bedded in, we realised
supermarkets were not recognising the
social care workforce. We contacted all the
major stores, going directly to their chief
executives. We contacted all our local
branches too, arguing the case for our staff
and the need to get food supplies to
people living in our services. We had some
successes and matters have improved.

Keeping staff safe
Getting the right information out to our
staff about the pandemic and how to
protect themselves and the people we Applause: appreciation is shown for efforts
support was a priority.
In the early days, the lack of information him and the organisation as a whole. As
was a real problem. Using our internal part of our weekly teleconference
contacts, we secured the support of a meeting with our managers, we shared
senior nurse working in a London hospital the sad news and, even though we were
who helped us think through the issues. communicating this to faces on a screen,
This resulted in a social-care friendly the effect of the news was palpable. This
training video on donning and doffing PPE horrible thing was now a reality.
for staff and guidance and instruction Over the next few weeks, our service
leaflets. We set up PPE and hygiene users with Covid-19 began to recover. Two
stations in services, using camping tables, returned to their homes from hospital and
which were a perfect and creative telephone support to people with learning we set up a recovery/convalescence
solution to minimising cross infection in disabilities living on their own or in the service in an empty property for a person
our very small, homely care services. family home. They also provide daily who was so traumatised by her
telephone teleconferencing contact with experience that she needed time and
support, activities and resources for support before returning home.
One person died. This had a people struggling with the lockdown. The visibility of our senior team and our
Some staff members were naturally
huge effect on the people he anxious about coming to work so our HR ability to communicate with people across
the organisation have been vital.
lived with, the staff supporting team talked through their fears and Teleconferencing has been good for
him and the organisation. concerns and, in many cases, these issues morale and motivation. Seeing teams
were resolved. putting procedures, systems and working
The numbers of staff off work were models into practice and the care and
updated daily and communicated to the dedication shown to the small number of
Our lack of PPE made us more creative. senior team. This meant we were able to people who have been sick with this virus
We sourced protective eye goggles from send out daily updates to services about fills me with pride.
building contractors, sterilising fluid from staff availability and, as a result, could Most of our staff have been incredible.
a home brewing company and gloves and allocate staffing when and where needed. We are finding heroes in our teams and
aprons from the motor industry. managers every day, and it makes things a
Our training department set up daily First case little better for us all when we know that
contact with services, working through We then had our first confirmed case of we are in this together.
infection control issues and ensuring the Covid-19 in a service user. We were Letters of thanks from our chief executive
information got through. devastated. Then, two more people were to staff and gift packages for workers and
Our senior managers set up daily confirmed to have the disease in another homes from charitable donations have
contact schedules with those managing service plus a further three had symptoms. given morale a much-needed boost.
Our weekly updates with managers are
services to troubleshoot emerging issues had a huge effect on the people he shared the times we know if we are getting it right
Sadly, one person died in hospital. This
Seán Kelly/www.seankellyphotos.com: rainbow sign levels of staffing required to ensure the We had to deal with pressure going, which spurs us on for another week.
and ensure all the right procedures and
his home with, the staff team supporting
or not. We have many moments of joy and
working practices were in place.
We assessed each service for critical
pride at how people are keeping things
health and wellbeing of the people we
However, our work is not all pride and
support. Our HR team set up systems to
joy. Frustration and anger are also part of
to admit people without testing
the daily yo-yo of emotions we all go
support and track staff with symptoms or
and isolation. Our insistence
who needed to self-isolate and/or shield.
through. All of us are frightened and
worried at times, and confident and
Some of our staff in high-risk groups
this was not acceptable may
optimistic at others.
were required to self-isolate for 12 weeks
It would be untrue to say that everyone
while others were able to work from home.
has been on the same page throughout.
This group of staff have taken on delivering
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk have saved lives Community Living Vol 33 No 4 | Summer 2020 11 t