Member Article

Leading care provider thanks public for support

A leading provider of at-home care and retirement living accommodation in Staffordshire and Shropshire has thanked local communities for the ‘incredible support’ its staff are receiving during the coronavirus crisis.

Care Plus, part of Housing Plus Group, provides specialist housing for around 2,000 elderly and vulnerable residents, delivers personal care and support to 200 people in their own homes and provides support for more than 10,000 users nationwide through its technology enabled support service. The not-for-profit organisation chose Carers Week 2020 (8-14 June) to thank neighbours, businesses and the families of its employees for the backing they have given to workers on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus.

Les Clarke, executive director of care and support at Care Plus, said that staff had been overwhelmed by the support from local communities:

“Our team has been working hard to support vulnerable customers. They have continued to provide personal care to those who need it, made thousands of reassurance calls to customers each week and maintained a 24:7 lifeline telecare response service. Outside their working hours many of them have also volunteered, helping residents obtain food and essential supplies.

“Their jobs have been made easier thanks to incredible backing from their families and from the public. Our carers found neighbours lining-up to applaud them as they set off to work and schemes have received cards and letters from well-wishers from all over the country. The support has been overwhelming.”

The care provider also received a surprise delivery of 250 face masks from public services provider Amey, when Pencric, a Care Plus retirement living with care and support scheme in Penkridge, was nominated to receive a share of 90,000 items of protective equipment donated by the company. These will be used in situations where they are not necessarily required for clinical or infection control reasons but can provide additional reassurance for staff and customers, for example by the retirement living housing team

Care supervisor Michelle Edwards said that she is proud of the role that carers have played in the crisis:

“The pandemic has changed the way that people think about carers, not just in Carers Week but more generally. This is our generation’s battle and we’ve been on the frontline.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Chick .