WEDNESDAY 22 DECEMBER - Our Community Staff are Outstanding

The adverse weather conditions of the past week have severely tested all organisations that provide services in the community to people in their homes. I have been visiting some of our community bases and have been hearing inspirational stories of dedication and determination by so many people to ensure that, despite the conditions, people will continue to get the support they need. In many areas we have been working on what is known as "crisis banding" to ensure that those with the greatest need get support as top priority. In many other cases we have been able to call on the support of families and neighbours to check that people are safe and well if and when it has proved impossible to get staff to them. This type of emergency procedure is well established and tested. It works well for a few days however the longer the adverse conditions continue the more pressing becomes the need to ensure that all our clients are visited. Juggling conflicting priorities and managing limited staff resources and time is a great skill that all our bases have developed. The response throughout all our bases has been that of dedicated professionalism of the highest order.

Our staff in Somerset Care At Home and in Echoes Community Care have been magnificent in their response to the conditions. They have taken risks themselves on treacherously icy and snow covered roads. We have had tremendous support from many people and especially the 4x4 fleet operators, owners and drivers who have volunteered themselves and their vehicles to support our care staff. We are most grateful to them all.


Representatives of the wonderful care teams are this valiant group of Community Team Supervisors and Senior Carers who I met deep 'in conference(!)' outside the Frome Community Services Office. I think the conference was about who gets to drive the 4x4! (l to r) Justine Plumridge, Colleen Tucker, Catherine Rodgers and Anna Newton.


Our stylish Frome base.
Thanks and very best wishes go to all our community teams who are out every day of the year delivering over 40,000 hours of care every week in 15 local authority areas. Take care, stay safe and I hope that somehow you will all find some time for a bit of a break over the Christmas period.
Best Wishes to you all.

Location:Frome