Posted on

Job Opportunity – Human Rights Project Worker (Maternity Cover)

Do you have human rights knowledge and experience?

 Are you passionate about protecting and promoting the rights of older people?

Do you want to improve the experiences of those living with dementia?

Scottish Care, in partnership with Life Changes Trust and the University of the West of Scotland, wishes to appoint a Human Rights Project Worker (Maternity cover) to support Rights Made Real: a three-year funded project focused on actively promoting the human rights of care home residents living with dementia.

The project has already been running for eighteen months and a range of creative and innovative projects are being funded which will benefit people living with dementia and show others how to make rights real in care homes. The arrival of COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the care home sector and there has never been a more important time to embed a human-rights based approach to the care and support of older persons. All partners in this project are committed to ensuring that older people, including those living with dementia, have a right to maintain strong connections with family and friends, with their communities and with the things that matter to them regardless of where they live. This has been very challenging during the pandemic. We believe that people of all ages, circumstances and conditions have a life to live, the right to thrive and hopes and dreams to achieve.

We are looking for someone with a strong understanding/interest in human rights who shares our passion to join us.

This is a full-time post for 9 months, hosted by Scottish Care and based in Scottish Care’s offices in Ayr. However, it is anticipated that the post-holder may have to travel throughout Scotland supporting the care homes involved in the project.

For an application pack please contact:  [email protected]

SALARY – £25,000 FTE

CLOSING DATE – FRIDAY 19TH JUNE 2020 – 12 NOON

INTERVIEW DATE (BY VIDEO CALL) – FRIDAY 26TH JUNE 2020

Posted on

Updated statement on the use of gloves

The ARHAI team (National IPC) has provided the statement below in regards to the use of gloves. 

This should also be considered in the light of:

  • There has been no change in guidance. The National Infection Protection Control Manual has been written with a focus an Acute settings and is mandatory within the NHS.
  • It recognises that Social Care operate within a different environment and the manual is recognised as ‘best practice’
  • There is also a broad appreciation that vinyl gloves have been used widely across the sector
  • The UK 4 nations group has been undertaking a literature review, with input from NHS Scotland to potentially expand upon the different situations where different glove types would be appropriate, in all cases supported by a local risk assessment  
  • There is a recognition that the cost of nitrle is significantly higher than vinyl and a shift in the balance of use would have an impact
  • Nevertheless until the outcome of the 4 nations work is available NSS has agreed to issue only nitrile gloves via the Hub system to ensure the higher standard is available across the sector, this will be reviewed in due course

As per National Infection Prevention and Control guidance vinyl gloves should not be used when the user anticipates risk of contact with blood and/or body fluids, when handling strong chemicals or cytotoxic materials.  Where there is no anticipated risk Vinyl gloves are suitable for social contact, direct contact and contact with the environment. 

The key message when using any gloves is to ensure proper hand hygiene is carried out after removing the gloves using either soap and water or ABHR.

Posted on

How to take care of your voice when wearing PPE

Wearing PPE for long periods of time may contribute to a strained voice when talking through a mask and visor. You need your voice now more than ever, and these steps can help prevent or alleviate strain in your voice:

Six steps for voice care when using face masks

 

1)    Drink plenty fluids

Your voice will work better and last longer if your vocal cords are lubricated. Drink roughly 2 litres (8 glasses or 4 pints) of water a day. Try steam inhalation.

2)    Breath support

Instead of forcing your voice from your neck to make it louder, take a deep, slow breath before speaking and use your stomach muscles to support your voice. Think of your voice coming forward and through the mask. Open your mouth more than usual when speaking.

3)    Pace yourself

Rest your voice when you can. Reduce background noise when talking if possible. Slow down and keep your sentences shorter than usual. Use pictures, written information and gestures to help get your message across to patients rather than just relying on your voice.

4)    Relax

Take 3 slow breaths – on your first breath out drop your shoulders down, on the next breath out unclench and relax your jaw, on the last breath out relax the back of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth.

5)    Avoid irritants

Limit your general intake of caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and high fat, spicy or acidic food if you are running into voice problems. Cut down or ideally don’t smoke.

6)    Do vocal warm-ups and stretches

Voice exercises before and after your shifts will stretch your vocal cords and help to prevent vocal injury by increasing blood flow to the larynx. Gently hum on a comfortable pitch then hum a scale or tune.

If you’d like more information, you can email: [email protected]

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Posted on

Guidance on drafting a media statement for Covid-19 confirmed cases/deaths

Media interest continues to increase for a number of providers during Covid-19, with journalists contacting members for their figures on confirmed Covid-19 cases or Covid-19 deaths. Providers may choose to provide a simple media statement to respond to these media enquiries. Whilst choosing not to engage with the media seems like the easiest option, a ‘no comment’ response could be more damaging when used for a negative story. It is likely that the story will still run so a simple statement can provide an opportunity to clarify a situation.

In recognition of this, Scottish Care has collated some information to help members draft media statements. It is important to consider the following information when drafting a media statement on Covid-19 confirmed cases/deaths:

1. Draft a general statement instead of a specific response to any questions proposed by the media

2. Confirm current situation

  • Are there confirmed Covid-19 cases or deaths?
  • You can include figures of cases/deaths if you wish to disclose this information

Example: It is with regret to note that at [name of care home], we do have a number of our residents and staff diagnosed with Covid-19. Sadly, this has included X numbers of deaths.

3. Express concern and offer sympathies for those affected by Covid-19

Example: We offer our deepest condolences for the residents, family and friends and staff who have been affected by this.

4. Highlight the preventative measures that were put in place

  • You could mention the robust supply of PPE/how PPE was used
  • You could mention positive work by the staff
  • You could mention that appropriate guidance was followed
  • Include any measures that saw the delay of transmission of the virus

Example: The staff at [name of care home] have been doing their utmost to provide compassionate care and support to our residents during these challenging times. We have been fortunate to have a robust supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which was used by staff in accordance to guidance. This effectively saw the delay in the transmission of the virus into our home.

5. Highlight any other measures that are put in place to address Covid-19 outbreak

  • Are positive staff self-isolating?
  • Are positive residents isolated?
  • Are staff working in designated areas?

Example: To help reduce the virus spreading in the home, we have put in the following measures in place [list measures].

6. Emphasise ongoing commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff.

Example: The health and safety of our staff and residents are our top priority, and as the Covid-19 crisis continues, we are committed to continually do everything we can to respond quickly and effectively, whilst following the latest advice from the government.

We have also created a Media Toolkit earlier this month to provide members with some tips and advice on how to handle media enquiries. You can access this toolkit here: https://scottishcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Media-Toolkit.pdf

If you require additional support with media requests, please contact [email protected].

Posted on

Join us and light a #candleforcare tonight

Scottish Care encourages you to join us in the #candleforcare movement.

Every Tuesday, we will light a candle at 7pm in remembrance of all those who have lost their lives to Covid-19 in our care homes, hospitals and communities.

We will also be doing this to recognise all the dedicated key workers, especially those in the social care sector. This is an opportunity to thank them for working tirelessly to provide compassion care during these challenging times.

The need to provide recognition to this workforce is important as highlighted in the latest blog by our CEO, Dr Donald Macaskill- Coronavirus exhaustion – upholding the mental health of the care sector which details the physical and mental exhaustion experienced by care workers, managers and providers across Scotland.  

Please join us in lighting a #candleforcare tonight.

 

Posted on

Statement on Testing and Death in Service Benefit

Statement

Scottish Care is pleased that following a submission to and meeting with the Cabinet Secretary Ms Freeman and Cllr Stuart Currie from COSLA on Friday 22nd May that the Scottish Government has decided to use the powers within the Public Health Act 2008 to ensure that no worker is disadvantaged if they are identified as requiring to isolate following a positive test for Coronavirus.

We are further grateful that the Scottish Government has taken the decision that the dedication of frontline social care staff who have tragically died from Covid19 should be recognised by means of a one-off ex-gratia payment of £60,000 to the families of those so bereaved.

Scottish Care will work with colleagues in COSLA, the Health and Social Care Partnerships and relevant Health Boards to expedite the practical arrangements of both these commitments in the coming days.

 

Ends./

Posted on

Coronavirus exhaustion – upholding the mental health of the care sector.

 

We are on the penultimate day of Mental Health Awareness Week. It has been a week when there has been a great deal of focus on the mental health and wellbeing of all our citizens as we live through these strange Covid days. Lockdown has added to and created considerable mental health distress and ill-health for tens of thousands. For many help has come from support they have found online or on the other end of the phone. For many others help simply has not come and at best will be delayed. How we look after ourselves mentally as individuals and as a nation matters now more than ever before.

In my thoughts today, however, I want to focus on some of the conversations which I have been having this week with folks in the care sector. These have been conversations which have shown me the real fragility which exists out there in terms of the mental wellbeing of our care sector. They are conversations which have changed quite considerably in tone and concern.

I suppose the first thing to say is that I am detecting a real change in the spirit and the morale of people delivering care in our care homes and in the community. I am detecting a depth of emotional exhaustion which I have never seen before.

It is probably a truism to say that whenever we are faced with a challenge in life the adrenaline of initial encounter, the support of those around us, the sense of collective endeavour can serve to energise and renew us. I think that was what many people felt in the early days of the Covid nightmare. Undeniably some of this collective camaraderie was on the back of a failure on the part of the rest of society to value the role of carers at the start of the pandemic. There was the constant focus in media and politics upon the NHS and its workforce. I am not – lest I be accused of it – denying the importance of our NHS colleagues at any time far less in recent weeks – but undeniably whether it was by being barred from special shopping times or refused offers from companies for ‘NHS only’ employees – social care staff felt ignored and put aside in the early days of the pandemic.

That changed and the ‘Clap for Carers’ movement – a response which may come to an end this coming Thursday – helped to underpin the central role and critical contribution of social care and other key workers to the rest of society. In the midst of battling this virus there was a growing sense of us all being ‘In It Together.’ Political point-scoring was put aside, and we entered a no-man’s land of consensual support, collective solidarity and focussed attention on beating the virus not least in the care home sector where it was beginning to have a dreadful impact.

But over time I have detected a change in the mood. The uneasy political peace gave way to the articulation of blame and the apportioning of responsibility for action or inaction. Personalities began to dominate rather than community consensus. The media began to focus negatively and critically on the care home sector and the inevitable finger-pointing started. Workers were literally door-stepped and followed home by a media sensing a story and with little concern for the aching pain and loss frontline workers and families were living through. But despite all this there remained an astonishingly sacrificial professional commitment on the part of the care workforce focussed on saving lives, being present, consoling and comforting.

But there is no doubt 9 weeks into lockdown that people are exhausted.

There is a type of tiredness which is so intense that it reaches deep inside the marrow of our bones. It is an exhaustion which is more than physical, it encompasses our spirit and our very being, it removes the energy which keeps us going even when we are tried beyond imagining. It is this emotional and total fatigue which is happening to care workers, managers and providers across Scotland.

I have never before had to hold so many conversations with individuals who have been on the edge of emotion, who are simply drained of energy and very tired at the constant barbed criticism which they feel is being directed at them from all quarters.

There is a coronavirus burnout happening before our eyes across Scotland. It is an exhaustion which is emotional, mental, and physical and it has been fed by excessive and prolonged stress. The stress of keeping going, saving lives, granting compassion and simply being present. And all the time there is a ticking clock of critique in the background. And accompanying this there is an emerging individual guilt – however misplaced – of ‘Could I have done better? Did we do everything we could have?’

 We need to be alive to the reality of a burnout care sector, of workers, managers and others feeling they have lost purpose. This does not just necessitate a response at an individual level it requires a real ‘putting our arms’ around care homes and home care. It is imperative that the potential of support for social care is achieved and maximised, that there is a mutual appreciation of the professionalism of the care sector by health colleagues and vice-versa.

It is well known that although we may expend all our energies getting to the summit of a challenge it is in the process of descending from the peak that most harm and injury is caused. The care sector in Scotland has exhausted every energy in fighting this virus and is still doing so – unlike the rush to lockdown seen elsewhere and the silence of unclapped hands  – the battle is still going on; lives are still being saved and cared for.

The last few weeks have been a collective effort and it is imperative that the next few weeks are ones where health and social care, where worker and manager, where politician and commentator, continue to uphold the care sector as we work collectively to meet the challenge of this virus.

There is a burnt-out exhausted care sector in our midst, but it is also one which is strong. It is strong in its talent, its creativity, its compassion and professionalism. It will grow stronger still if it is really supported, truly valued and deeply cherished.

As we end Mental Health Awareness week, I hope we can all collectively continue to remember and focus on the amazing care in our midst. So, every Tuesday at 7pm I will try to light a candle and spend a minute to remember those who have died in our care homes, in our hospitals and communities; to remember those who care beyond calculation, those who go out from comfort to give compassion; those who work tirelessly even when exhausted and burnt out. I will remember until that day when we hear of no deaths from Covid19. May that day come soon.

Please join me in lighting a #candleforcare.

 

Donald Macaskill