Covid in Scotland: Teachers asked to work in Glasgow care homes as staff hit by Omicron

Hetty58

I'm just wondering if it's already anticipated that schools will be closed after Christmas (to slow down transmission). Teachers will be 'spare' then - so put them to good use in advance?

To be honest, there was more work during online teaching in lockdown last year than in school. None of the existing resources I had were able to be used for online teaching. Everything had to either be reinvented OR tranferred into a different format, suitable to be used with students who had no handouts, no classroom resources. I was up, every bl**dy night, trying to see my 'online' teaching through the eyes of my weakest students. The ones that I would normally sit with, explain 121 with, correct the books of as I went round the classroom.

I was really glad to be back to teaching in person. So much easier.

Casdon

growstuff I do know what I’m talking about. I fully appreciate that care is a skilled role, having worked in the NHS for 40+ years. However, I also know from experience that people can be trained to perform tasks which greatly support trained staff very quickly, and that trained staff are happy to do the training because it helps them. This happened a number of times through my career, when porters, admin staff, works and estates staff and pathology staff were redeployed to support the nurses and domestic staff on the wards. Needs must.

How long did it take to train them? Was the quality of training assessed?

Yes, they can be trained. By the way, one of my sisters had a very senior role in training care staff, so I know (second hand) what I'm talking about. However, any decent training takes time and diverts skilled staff from their own roles.

What strikes me is that this is a decision taken by people who really don't understand the skills required for caring roles. Teaching and care work are designated as "caring", by the bods in their offices, who really don't understand the different skills required.

Caring jobs are not regarded as high status and are, therefore, paid poorly. They're mainly "female" roles and females are somehow deemed as natural carers. IMO this undermines the specific skills which are required for specific roles.

growstuff I do know what I’m talking about. I fully appreciate that care is a skilled role, having worked in the NHS for 40+ years. However, I also know from experience that people can be trained to perform tasks which greatly support trained staff very quickly, and that trained staff are happy to do the training because it helps them. This happened a number of times through my career, when porters, admin staff, works and estates staff and pathology staff were redeployed to support the nurses and domestic staff on the wards. Needs must.

Hetty58

I'm just wondering if it's already anticipated that schools will be closed after Christmas (to slow down transmission). Teachers will be 'spare' then - so put them to good use in advance?

No, they won't be "spare". They will be juggling online and face-to-face learning. Secondary school teachers will still be preparing pupils for exams, the planning and administration of which took a great deal of time and stress last year - and all this, while feeding people in care homes!

Casdon

growstuff you obviously feel very strongly about this issue, but you must realise that the alternative is that people won’t be cared for. This is an in extremis solution, and trained carers will be supervising untrained staff, who will be taught how to perform basic tasks. Is it better that people aren’t fed, or not taken to the toilet than being taken by somebody who is new to the task but has been shown how to do it?

What you don't seem to take into account is that supervising somebody properly takes time away from the main task. There's nothing worse than a bunch of clueless volunteers.

Yes, I do feel strongly about the issue. Care work isn't unskilled work and unskilled people shouldn't be expected to "muck in".

I'm just wondering if it's already anticipated that schools will be closed after Christmas (to slow down transmission). Teachers will be 'spare' then - so put them to good use in advance?

growstuff you obviously feel very strongly about this issue, but you must realise that the alternative is that people won’t be cared for. This is an in extremis solution, and trained carers will be supervising untrained staff, who will be taught how to perform basic tasks. Is it better that people aren’t fed, or not taken to the toilet than being taken by somebody who is new to the task but has been shown how to do it?

Josieann

I guess they're desperate Aveline so what else can they do other than to appeal and hope some will come forward? I keep thinking what if that were my mum in the care home being left with no care, it is upsetting. I think I would offer a bit of time were I younger, the nature of the work shouldn't put people off.

Whether they're "put off" isn't the issue. The issue is that people are being expected to do tasks for which they'll receive no training. Old people have choked to death and fallen on the way to the toilet because they were "helped" by people who didn't know what they were doing.

Caleo

Growstuff, work in a cafe home does involve special technical expertise, and regular staff would be there to deal with medications, and instruct on how to use hoists and so forth.

Many patients may be washed and fed by kind and intelligent amateurs.

Quite frankly, no vulnerable person should ever be washed and fed by an "amateur" with no training. Even these so-called basic tasks require skill.

It's not just teachers being asked to help out in Edinburgh. It's local authority staff.

How on earth do they think teachers are anywhere near qualified to work in a care home? What exactly would they be doing?

Growstuff, work in a cafe home does involve special technical expertise, and regular staff would be there to deal with medications, and instruct on how to use hoists and so forth.

Many patients may be washed and fed by kind and intelligent amateurs.

That teachers are asked to do this shows the respect that teachers are held in. My teacher daughter in law could turn her hand to anything practical and ethical and often does.

I suspect that some people might even enjoy it. A bit of a change and could suit those otherwise alone at Christmas. It's only a temporary stop gap until things get a bit more organised.

I guess they're desperate Aveline so what else can they do other than to appeal and hope some will come forward? I keep thinking what if that were my mum in the care home being left with no care, it is upsetting. I think I would offer a bit of time were I younger, the nature of the work shouldn't put people off.

Now appealing for suitable council staff in Edinburgh to help out in care homes. They're to be paired with experienced staff and paid an enhanced rate. I wonder if they'll have many volunteers for this.

Well, to be fair, they'd only be able to do things like washing clothes and using the dishwasher.

Would teachers be paid their usual hourly rate or that of a care worker?

True.

Indeed! So why ask teachers to do it? Anybody could.

growstuff

Aveline

There must be many aspects of work in care homes that could be done by anyone without special training. Eg taking round refreshments, tidying, chatting to those without visitors, generally being a pair of hands. This could free up more experienced staff for the more complex and/or intimate jobs.
As an untrained NHS ward volunteer I can find lots of jobs to do that are easily manageable, contribute to patient care and give staff more time for sharp end stuff. It's a two way thing of course. I enjoy it very much and meet some lovely people. There are positive sides to care work.

What you're saying is that anyone could do this work (not just teachers or nursery school staff). From what I've read, the idea is to get these people quickly. Even being a "pair of hands" needs somebody to supervise and give instructions, which takes time away from providing care.

Even taking round refreshments needs somebody to explain where to place the food/drinks, so that it's accessible, instructions on what to do if a person leaves food and drink untouched, not giving sugary foods to diabetics or certain drinks to those who could choke, etc etc.

Yes, but surely the likes of a teacher, or anyone with a bit of intelligence, only needs to have this explained once or maybe twice. I have taken on work experience kids who after a morning's induction are capable of following instructions and relieving other staff from duties. The best way of giving instructions is to do it while on the job. If as a teacher you are left in charge of a classes of school kids I think you are more than able to remember which patient needs what, or use a notebook.

JaneJudge

lots of us have posted re the situation in care and lack of staff/no one applying for positions for months now. It isn't just old people who are affected but lots of disabled people

I don't think teachers should be working in care homes, it is ridiculous but someone needs to be (AND IN THE COMMUNITY)

Well said.

Aveline

There must be many aspects of work in care homes that could be done by anyone without special training. Eg taking round refreshments, tidying, chatting to those without visitors, generally being a pair of hands. This could free up more experienced staff for the more complex and/or intimate jobs.
As an untrained NHS ward volunteer I can find lots of jobs to do that are easily manageable, contribute to patient care and give staff more time for sharp end stuff. It's a two way thing of course. I enjoy it very much and meet some lovely people. There are positive sides to care work.

What you're saying is that anyone could do this work (not just teachers or nursery school staff). From what I've read, the idea is to get these people quickly. Even being a "pair of hands" needs somebody to supervise and give instructions, which takes time away from providing care.

Even taking round refreshments needs somebody to explain where to place the food/drinks, so that it's accessible, instructions on what to do if a person leaves food and drink untouched, not giving sugary foods to diabetics or certain drinks to those who could choke, etc etc.

Very true.
The education system has changed immensely, and so has care.