Urgent appeal goes out to workers across the West Midlands: “join us now to protect and save lives in care homes”

Councils and private care homes across the West Midlands have issued an urgent appeal for hundreds of workers to join their fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.

Local authority improvement body West Midlands Employers (WME) and the regional branch of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WMADASS) has launched the #TimeToCare campaign on behalf of adult social care providers in the region, alongside recent appeals for former social workers and social work students to get involved.

The appeal comes as the focus of the Covid-19 emergency moves to social care as the pressures on care homes and homes services grow and the risks to their residents and clients continue to increase.

The campaign aims to attract redundant and furloughed workers to carry out essential roles in care across the West Midlands – from assisting people in their personal care to working as catering, maintenance and admin. staff.

WME and WMADASS are looking for additional staff to ensure thousands of vulnerable adults in need of care, who are shielding at home or who are in residential or nursing homes, receive the support they need during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Andy Begley, Chair of ADASS in the West Midlands and Executive Director Adult Services, Public Health & Housing at Shropshire Council, said:

We need urgent help. Many care homes were already under immense pressure and struggling to recruit before Covid-19 hit. With a significant and growing number of vulnerable people requiring care and many existing care staff becoming ill and having to self-isolate themselves, we are facing a very difficult situation.”

Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, said:

You have the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives right now by applying for a role or sharing the #TimeToCare campaign with people you know in and around the West Midlands. There are plenty of different jobs available, from providing personal care to cooking meals for residents and training will be provided and your safety and wellbeing a priority”.

You can explore existing roles here: https://tinyurl.com/y9wqjdk9

If you are a business in West Midlands and would like to support please visit https://timetocare.org.uk/sharetocare/