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

It's not just this government. This is s situation that's been developing for decades as the population ages, lives longer and can be helped medically as well as more disabled people needing help.
The situation needs a long hard look and non political planning.

Calistemon

Josieann

Teachers will be back to school in the New Year - what then?
Unless someone knows something we don't!!

Oh no!

But they still have to man (and woman) the hubs and set online work.

True

and I imagine lots of people on GRansnet will have moaned about the rises in council tax which doesn't even cover the shortfall in the social care bill

My own daughter who has a disability qualifies for health funding but we cannot get it (along with lots of other families) so she is reliant on social care, which she pays a contribution to care on.

I sometimes wish people had the capacity to experience or understand what we go through whilst this uncaring, despicable government have been in power because it has been a disgrace from the beginning.

Josieann

^Teachers will be back to school in the New Year - what then?^
Unless someone knows something we don't!!

Oh no!

But they still have to man (and woman) the hubs and set online work.

I know, I agree they need to be paid more but central government off shot their responsibilities onto local authorities and there is no money, there hasn't been for years now

Teachers will be back to school in the New Year - what then?
Unless someone knows something we don't!!

Sorry - working conditions and poor pay for such a responsible job.

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)

Teachers will be back to school in the New Year - what then?

This could be partly due to unvaccinated staff not being allowed to work with vulnerable people now.
Added to which working poor pay.

I worked in a hone with four adult, challenging men living there.
Just those men, and at times 2 staff.
I would never have expected anyone new to have any contact at all with the men.
They knew very well when someone was new, and it changed the whole feel of the place.
It could be rather unsettling.
So, if they didn't mind putting clothes in the wash, making a cuppa, putting ironing away or answering the phone then it was all a huge help, and a much better way for everyone to adapt.

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)

So just to make a point just leave care homes understaffed just when their elderly residents need most help?!
I'd say all hands to the pump now, collect the evidence of what was actually needed and when things have settled down look more closely at training, pay and conditions and retention of care staff.

Probably targeted as they will all have appropriate disclosure checks otherwise it would take quite a while for others or being paid. Suppose some staff may be interested in earning extra cash.

Aveline is spot on. I think Casdon and others meant that teachers could easily "help out" under supervision. I doubt very much they would be left to their own devices, they are being asked to help out under the direction of trained carers who oversee the work. I "helped out" at a care home's garden party in the summer as an extra pair of hands, and very grateful they were too, but I wasn't required to do anything skillful, that was left to the trained staff.

Agree Casdon. Ever heard of "horses for courses" ? Everyone ? Those who agree to allow this dreadful patching up of the sector's dire shortages is pandering to a pathetically inadequate bunch of twerps in charge! Only an imbecile would think it ok to shore up a crumbling industry with makeshift cheapo helpers! Why are so many willing to make themselves complicit in such appalling practices? Can no leg see what's happening or are most so used to be told what to think they are unable to see what's right in front of them!!!! Flip it! Maybe cleaners could double up as teachers? After all it's just glorified babysitting isn't it? Case rested!

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.

How many essential jobs are "topped up" by volunteers or makeshift fillers? Accountancy/tax office/banking/architecture/surgeons/etc etc? None! Why? Because these are essentially important and relevant careers. Which just goes to show what the overlords' view/attitude is towards the care sector! Again utterly contemptible!!

Well it's just typical of what happens when those at the money end don't spread the wealth! Rubbish rates of pay can only attract people who either have little financial commitment to maintain/aren't main earner/need I. Work benefits to cope. There must be 1000s of dedicated people who would love to work in the care services but simply cannot afford to! Asking teachers to step in? Utter contempt for them by the industry! They think that retirees are sitting gazing out of windows waiting to pop our clogs!!! How many care home owners live on the breadline and how many are quite/very wealthy? Put your hands in the pot and stop being so damn tight! The residents deserve the best so give it to them!!! Disgraceful behaviour

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.

GoldenAge I agree with the first part of your post. Carers do have certain skills and to think anybody could just "help out" is insulting to carers.

I think I might be misunderstanding the second part of your post. Hopefully, you're not implying that teachers and other local authority employees couldn't care less about their own relatives more than anybody else.

If you want something doing ask a busy person.
What is the unemployment situation in Scotland, or those living on benefits?

Well I'm surprised that no comments appear about the role of carers - yet again they are considered as people who have no training, and no special skills - and that's why they keep getting paid a pittance. This is quite disgraceful in my mind - the 'all hands on deck' mentality is what keeps people down - the thing is that teachers and other local authority employees are not 'hands', they are not trained to help on board ship, and are certainly not trained as carers - in fact many of them couldn't care less which is why they put their families in care homes to start with - maybe not a popular thing to so but it's about time somebody started to recognise carers as people who can't easily be replaced - that's a voice for the carers - my voice for the teachers is just as noisy.

Ah well.
Good luck with it all, if anyone decides to give it a try.
It would be interesting to hear how the hurdles were got over to make it even doable.

MissAdventure

Well, in that case, it's a strange request.
I wonder if they would adjust the dbs requirements for a few weeks?

No, that would undermine the importance of DBS.

Casdon

I’ve got the message that you don’t think it’s appropriate and wouldn’t be prepared to help growstuff, but we have to hope that where is a will there is a way, and that others will be prepared to overcome the not insurmountable issues including DBS and support carers - because what’s the alternative if people don’t come forward?
In reality the only alternative for many is that they will be admitted to hospital. That’s the worst possible solution for them and for anybody else who needs medical treatment.

Casdon The point which you (and others) seem to have missed is that I (and most other teachers) am not trained or experienced in working with people in a care home. Teachers and care workers have different skills. Don't try and guilt-trip me.

Well, in that case, it's a strange request.
I wonder if they would adjust the dbs requirements for a few weeks?

Teachers who come into regular contact with those who are known to be a major cause of spreading the virus (although not badly affected themselves)? Working among the most vulnerable members of society whom we are supposed to value and cherish? Whose half baked idea was this? Oh yes, some highly paid ‘manager’ or minister in a bullet proof job working from home no doubt, at the taxpayers expense! Smacks of desperation and absolutely disgusting.