COUNCILLOR'S PLAUDITS FOR 'ABSOLUTE BACKBONE' CARE WORKERS

All in it together - three of the team at  Willow Homecare

CARE workers are "the absolute backbone of our adult social care system".

That's the verdict of Cleethorpes councillor Margaret Cracknell (Con, Haverstoe) who is North East Lincolnshire Council portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and adult social care.

Cllr Cracknell - praise for 'tireless' careworkers

Says she: "They provide care for so many people, keeping them company, cooking and making sure that they take the right medicine at the right time. 

"Often the care workers are the only people that service-users might see from day to day.

“So thank you, now more than ever, to all those in our area. 

"We are all so grateful to you for the tireless work you do.”

Despite the pressures, care workers across the county are continuing to respond to the needs of others and are doing an incredible job caring for those people who need it. 

They face many challenges during the Covid-19 outbreak in order to protect both the residents and themselves from the virus, while continuing to provide quality care and much needed social contact.

Care workers are already knowledgeable and experienced in using personal protective equipment and maintaining good hand hygiene when caring for people. 

They are currently following national guidelines and advice on social distancing where possible throughout their care services to help stop the transmission of the virus and keep people safe.


Rosaline Rouse, director/owner of  Grimsby-based Willow Homecare, says:  “We are proud of our team who are working tirelessly to ensure that all visits are remaining in place and thank you to all staff who have been full of compassion, kindness and integrity through this difficult time. 

"They have stepped up to the pressures and have been working with all professional agencies, supporting people within their own homes delivering extra services such as shopping, collecting medication and ensuring that all of their needs are being met whilst they are in isolation from their families and friends and that they feel safe and are reassured, and they will continue to do this through this challenging time.”

Victoria Lawn, frontline care worker with Willow Homecare says: "I am extremely lucky as I work with a fantastic team that supports us, making sure we all have the correct PPE to protect ourselves and our service users. Sometimes just hearing someone say 'you’re doing a great job, thank you for all you do and are doing' means the world to us and picks us back up again, and a little bit of recognition is all we ask for and goes a long way. We are looking after your loved ones to the best of our ability in such a difficult time.”


Julie Blake, frontline care worker with Willow Homecare says: “I absolutely love my job, it’s an honour to do my job and I feel very privileged in what I do, I would not change it for the world. I am very close to all my clients and I will always go above and beyond for them, whatever they need. We are keeping our clients safe and keeping ourselves safe using PPE and keeping them informed of everything going on, and reassuring them when they feel anxious. Weare all team players and we are all in it together.”

Carol McKenzie, a team leader at Grimsby's  Anchorage Care Home, says: “I have worked for Humberside Independent Care Association (HICA) for over 10 years now and I feel our team is the strongest it has ever been. "We have pulled together more than ever to support our vulnerable residents.  We continue to come to work every day because we know our residents need us and that makes me proud to be part of the HICA family.”

Kerry Bryam, a personal carer at The Anchorage, says: “We are remaining positive during this difficult time and are all in good spirits working together as a team to ensure our vulnerable residents do not know that anything is different to their normal day to day routines, supporting them like they are our own family.  The ethos of our home is that ‘If it’s good enough for Mum, then its good enough!'