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

Honestly, I've always thought teaching would be impossible for me to ever have contemplated.
Most children I know would agree.

They have been invited to help not forced. Its just over Xmas not in school time so I can't see the problem. They can refuse and get paid for shifts if they wish to participate

How many teachers are qualified to work in Care Homes.?? The skills are generally not transferable. Don't believe everything you read in the press.

So basically, they are expecting unqualified people to go and work in the homes?
As the aunt of one teacher and sister of a teaching assistant, I can quite honestly say that they deserve their holidays this year more than any other.
Certainly many teachers will probably actually only spend a couple of days actually relaxing - the rest of the time will be spent in preparation for the next term.
The majority have worked right through, either actually in schools or from home,and have had to organise lessons either in the classrooms plus extra ones for those isolating or via zoom.

should not be able to work in a care home without a security check and also the proper training which takes a while so cannot see how a teacher could work in one .

"GagaJo" that's Scotland not England the Scots are already over spending their NHS budget.

Why don't the care homes ask the families to come in and help not the teachers

It has been said that teachers' dbs forms only cover working with children.
Then again, they told me that I couldn't possibly hold one which covers both.
But I do.

Anyway, they are asking, there is no compulsion to do it.

MissAdventure

It has been said that teachers' dbs forms only cover working with children.
Then again, they told me that I couldn't possibly hold one which covers both.
But I do.

You hold one for a specific role. A teacher's DBS covers the teacher to work with children as a teacher, not to work with vulnerable adults.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!!

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 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.

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.

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.

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)