by Richard Buckley, Editor, Business Eye

An independent group representing the Nation’s care providers, who care and support over 1.2 million vulnerable people across all forms of social care in the UK, have issued an urgent letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnston.


 

 The group, alongside the support of the Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP), Care England, Scottish Care and Fforwm Gofal Cymru, has outlined the urgent need for more staff to cover the increased demand on their services and cover staff shortages caused by sickness and self‐isolation during the Covid-19 outbreak.  

 They request that a clarification is made in legislation that anyone wishing to work in the provision of care including the NHS or any form of Social Care, will be permitted to take up paid employment in the NHS and with social care providers, even if they are currently furloughed in other industries and receiving 80% of their wage.

They have asked that furloughed workers receive their 80% payment AND to work in care and get paid for this at no penalty. Allowing the NHS and social care providers to employ such people with no penalty.

Gareth Macklin, director of Macklin Care Homes who run sixcare homes in Northern Ireland and is a board member for Northern Ireland, said: “The social care sector have always provided vital services within the community and care homesand has never been more important than it is now. 

“During this challenge, as we have always done, we are supporting our NHS colleagues on a daily basis by helping free up hospital beds and deliver care in the community for people who most need it.

 “But we now need more support and urgent action from Government to allow us to recruit more staff to help us during a time when there is a huge increase in demand on our staffing levels caused by sickness and those in self-isolation.

 “We ask that an amendment is added to allow the NHS and social care providers, in homes or in community, to provide paid employment to staff furloughed from other industries.

 “This action would have a significant positive impact on our staffing and our ability to maintain the high level of care we currently provide. It would help us support our existing workforce’s health and wellbeing and provide cover for the inevitable loss of staff to sickness and self‐isolation.

“Our teams across the UK are doing an incredible job under extreme pressure and we want to do everything we can to support them. 

“I, alongside my counterparts in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK call for an immediate amendment to the legislation to allow us to get on with the important job of staff recruitment to allow the elderly and vulnerable in our society to get the care they deserve.”

Gareth concluded: “We need people to start in these jobs straight away in addition to the support from voluntary people and communities. We’ve roles available across our own group, and indeed, as does the entire care sector. Many of these rolesneed no experience – if you’ve the right values, we can train you as would nearly every other care provider across the country.”

Business Eye logo

Gareth Macklin of Macklin Care Homes

Advertisement

HOLD MPU 2

Receive Monthly Magazine

Choose Printed or Online Edition

Subscribe to Business Eye Magazine Subscribe Today