Tuesday 24 March
It continues to be a challenging time as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread across the UK and we continue to thank you all for your commitment, support and understanding at this time of considerable challenge.
In such challenging times, there is a need to ensure that we have contingency measures in place for a potential significant reduction in our frontline Homecare workforce in the coming weeks and increases in community support needed as a result of the anticipated increased impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). This is a consideration for services across health and social care.
Can you help?
Now that we have moved to emergency frontline service delivery only, as detailed in Employee News 21 (issued yesterday, Monday 23 March), we are making an appeal for any of our workforce, who have a PVG disclosure check in place and who might be available and prepared to support the delivery of our Homecare services to our community in the coming weeks.
What is required?
- You should be willing to carry out Homecare visits to our residents who are in receipt of this service
- You cannot volunteer if you are required to deliver any critical services still in place in your normal service area
- You must have a current PVG disclosure check in place
- It is anticipated that service from volunteers might be needed for six to seven weeks, during the period that coronavirus (COVID-19) spread is anticipated to be at its peak
- You should advise your line manager that you wish to volunteer
- You will need to undertake a 2 day training programme, which will cover the following areas:
- Personal care – basics 1 day face to face group training.
- Moving & Handling – basic ½ day face to face group training.
- Infection control – basic 1 hour face to face group training.
- Medication protocols – basic 1 hour face to face group training.
- Food hygiene – basic 2 to 3 hours online (6 modules)
Who to Contact
Anyone who is interested in volunteering for this critical response role to support our local delivery requirements, particularly as the coronavirus outbreak escalates in the coming weeks, should contact:
Caroline Smith, HR Business Partner on 07917 638789 or caroline.smith@eastdunabrton.gov.uk
If Caroline is unavailable you can contact Lisa McGregor, Team Leader – Organisational Development on 0141 777 3311 Ext. 3429 or lisa.macgregor@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.
What happens next?
Volunteers will be contacted to discuss their availability and to arrange the 2 day training programme. Once volunteers have been trained, a deployment plan will be put in place ready for when anticipated additional support is required. Full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will of course be provided in line with the requirements of the role.
We appreciate this is a challenging time for all our employees – and thank you in advance for considering this appeal for volunteers as we plan for the further challenges we anticipate in social care service provision as the pandemic escalates.
Thank you
Ann Davie
Depute Chief Executive – Education, People & Business