80 emergency home care workers trained
OVER 80 emergency home support workers have been trained to deliver vital services to some of Inverclyde’s most vulnerable residents during the coronavirus pandemic.
The huge recruitment drive has been led by Inverclyde Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to ensure continuity of help and support for those who need it.
Over the last seven weeks since lockdown began, 24 emergency home support workers have been taken on with 13 more due to start soon once their training is complete.
A further 45 volunteers have been trained to help service users and existing employees.
The recruitment drive is in response to the coronavirus outbreak which saw absence levels peak at 37 per cent due to staff having to self-isolate, shield or being forced to stay off work due to illness.
While the number of employees off work has fallen, the HSCP was quick off the mark following lockdown to draft in additional support to bolster the ranks and ensure some of the area’s most vulnerable residents continue to receive the care they need at home.
Councillor Robert Moran, Inverclyde’s Convener of Health & Social Care, said: “I’ve experienced first-hand the work the care at home team do and it is truly remarkable.
“We’ve all been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and our health and social care system is no different.
“The quick reactions of the HSCP in recruiting sessional workers and volunteers to mitigate the inevitable staff absence rate has allowed the care at home service to continue operating, providing support to those in our communities who need it the most.
“But delivering that service would not be possible without the huge response from people applying for the various roles and offering their services as volunteers.
“We owe them all a debt of gratitude for answering the call during such challenging times – and for carrying out the work with such dedication and professionalism.”
HSCP staff are currently sifting through the latest batch of applications and more staff are being recruited.
Tracey Franek, 56, is one of the new-starts and got more than she bargained for having been out of work since relocating from London to Greenock earlier this year to be near her sister.
She said: “I couldn’t get a job so thought I’d help my community out by applying for what I thought was voluntary work.
“I already do volunteering, including as a befriender. I didn’t want to stay at home because I couldn’t get a job.
“It wasn’t until I started here that I realised it was a paid role. I’m loving it.”
Among the many volunteers is Inverclyde Council staff whose normal work has been affected by the coronavirus restrictions or who wanted to do more to help the community.
Long-serving employee Arunava Ghosh-Ray, 45, is an accountant during the day and also helps out with the care at home team at night.
He said: “The response from the public at large since lockdown was very inspiring supporting the local community, charities and so on.
“That was the motivating factor for me to volunteer.
“It’s been a great experience. Since working with my colleagues in the care at home team, to see the help they give, their dedication and cheerfulness in spite of everything that’s going on, it’s inspirational.”
Lynne Campbell, 44, has been a home support worker for the last five years and has been blown away by the response to the recruitment drive.
She said: “It is great to see everybody coming together and helping out, especially the volunteers.
“It’s been great not just for our service users but for us as workers too, they’ve helped us out.”
Over the past six weeks, staff across HSCP services in homecare, community pharmacy, training section, human resources and the Centre for Independent Living have worked tirelessly ensure the new recruits have the mandatory training required to start on their journey as a home support worker.
It has been carried out to a high standard at locations including Hillend Centre in Greenock’s East Crawford Street, pictured, whilst adhering to coronavirus rules and restrictions, such as social-distancing.
To apply for roles, visit www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/inverclyde-council/jobs.
For the latest service updates from Inverclyde Council and Inverclyde HSCP, log on to www.inverclyde.gov.uk/coronavirus.