May 2020 Staff Newsletter

Professional Excellence

At Vine Social Care one of our core values is competence. Competence is essential to our mission to provide excellent care for each individual, everyday and everywhere. We are always looking for ways to support and empower you to provide the best care possible. That is why we have made all essential training resources available online to anyone who needs them. For those of you interested in additional or specialist training, feel free to contact the office.

While Coronavirus restrictions and guidelines on social contact remain in force, on-site training facilities will only be available for absolutely essential training that cannot be done remotely. If you are unsure of whether the training you need can be done online, contact the office to find what remote training options are available.

Staff Feedback and Suggestions

Over the last few weeks a few of you have offered some feedback and suggestions on how you are getting on with your work and what we can do to support you in your work.

One of the things that was raised was that occasionallycalls were cancelled without notice. Unfortunately, sometimes clients may need to cancel a call at the last minute and we cannot control this. Wherever possible we aim to provide you with at least 24 hours’ notice when a call is cancelled.

If you would like to make any suggestions or provide feedback, feel free to give us a call and we will do everything we can to accommodate your suggestions wherever this is possible and aligned with our values.



Coronavirus Update


Trial for a new drug is underway
A new drug formulated by UK scientists to cure the coronavirus patients is being trialled at the University Hospital Southampton. The medicine utilises a protein related to interferon beta that the human body generates when we acquire a viral infection. Preliminary results from the trial are expected by the end of June

Calls for inquiry as the UK reports the highest death toll in Europe
The country has the worst COVID-19 death toll on the continent. The total of mortalities across the country reached over 31,000 at the time of writing for those people who tested positive for the virus. It now goes beyond the 29,029 that was verified in Italy.

No schedule for returning to school
Will schools reopen before the summer holidays? It is not likely the case as there has been no date set. Childminders, kindergartens and schools in the country are still offering care for kids whose parents are key workers critical to the coronavirus response and who can’t be cared for at home. They are also providing care for kids who are considered vulnerable.

Families of Care Workers and NHS staff Who Die due to the Pandemic Will Receive a Pay-out


There are sixteen social care staff and 82 NHS staff who have lost their lives to the battle of the COVID-19. Health secretary Matt Hancock announced that the government is establishing a life insurance program for social care and NHS frontline colleagues.

“Families of staff who die from coronavirus in the course of their essential frontline work will receive a £60,000 payment,” says Hancock.


The program will cover social care workers and frontline NHS staff in England. What’s more, funding will be presented to support similar programs in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

The pay-outs will apply to locum, part-time and full-time NHS as well as public health care workers. It includes retired staff, dentists, GPs and second and final year students taking up paid front line owners.

Think Tank Plead to the Government to Acknowledge the Heroic Contribution of Care Workers during the Pandemic

IPRR plead to the government to issue guarantees to social care workers throughout the pandemic. It is all about offering the heroes the security, support and protection they require.

•  
• Care
• Mental health
• Pay
• Accommodation
• Safety

Martin Green, chief executive of Care
England, says “Never again must social
care be the underdog. Social care must retain its rightful status, which will,
therefore, necessitate adequate resourcing, funding and status.”



Mental Health Awareness Week!


Mental Health Awareness Week will happen from May 18 to 24, 2020 and is organised by the Mental Health Foundation.

Access to treatment is essential. However, support networks, finances, employment, and housing play a vital part too for those affected with mental health. That’s why the organisation will be raising awareness of the six core components required for a community model of care for individuals living with a mental health problem. These are:

• access to clinical services
• volunteering
• finances and employment
  housing
• physical health
• social connectedness

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, how can you improve your mental health while at home? Here are some tips:

• open up to somebody
• practise meditation staying in the moment
• get some exercisetell yourself something positive
• write down something you are thankful for

If you need support with your mental health at work, please get in touch and we would be happy to arrange any support you need.

If you need mental health help or information, there are many organisations to call, such as:

• Anxiety UK
• Bipolar UK
• Young Minds
• CALM

This Month is also National Walking Month


This month is National Walking Month! National charity Living Streets is working to establish a safe, pleasant and pleasurable society that will motivate people to walk along with their successful annual initiatives. The organisation hope to demonstrate to adults and kids how simple and rejuvenating walking is.

Did you know that walking supports strong bones and enhanced balance? It also lowers the risk of stroke and heart disease. Walking also helps improve your pulmonary and cardiovascular fitness.

But as a busy social care worker, how can you fit exercise into your schedule? Here’s a simple way:

• Go for a walk in the morning before work
• Go for a walk during your break  
• Walk around your home when you take or make a call on your phone