Dec 2021
Letter for family and friends: 24 December
A message from CEO, Dan Hayes
As you will all be aware, our teams and care homes have faced extraordinary challenges since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only have they worked courageously through the early months, adopting new protocols and practices, more recently they have been asked to manage ever-changing visiting guidance, often released by the Government at the eleventh hour.
Adding to the stress of understanding and introducing frequently changing Government guidance, our care homes have also been affected by long standing sector-wide pressures on staffing levels, and more recently increased employee absence through having to self-isolate. Whilst we plan for fluctuations in staffing, like others in the care sector, this winter is proving especially challenging.
We understand how important visits are to yourselves and your loved ones, and we are committed to supporting visiting in our homes, in line with Government guidance. The Trust has always moved quickly to invest in and facilitate safe visiting, from installing handwashing units at home entrances, establishing screened visiting rooms and garden pods, and swiftly updating our protocols through our Covid-19 working group.
I am asking for your support and understanding for our teams, who are doing their very best this winter to ensure that visiting takes place safely in our homes. We are aware of a small number of instances where visitors have been obstructive or unpolite in their communications with our teams.
Our homes are also supported by our central teams. These include our busy recruitment team who are responding to our most ambitious recruitment campaign ever. Our volunteering department is liaising with care homes to promote new ways that volunteers can dedicate some extra hours and support their local teams. These are just two of the proactive initiatives we have taken to help tackle the current staffing crisis.
Please continue to be patient with all team members in our care homes and understanding of the pressures they are dealing with. We expect everyone to adhere to our Visitors' Charter.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With best wishes,
Dan Hayes