Our incredible staff are our driving force in fighting coronavirus. Apart from the threat of the virus itself, our biggest risk is making sure that the people we support have enough staff supporting them, so they are safe and their needs are met.
In response to this risk, last year we launched our coronavirus rapid response team, this is a team of up to 90 FitzRoy staff who are on standby to move into a service where there is an outbreak and staffing levels are at risk. Last year, staff embedded for more than 11,000 hours!
Steve is a support worker at our Timber Grove service in Rayleigh, Essex. He bedded in at one of our Suffolk supported living services for seven days to support Stuart. Stuart had tested positive for coronavirus and his usual staff team were self isolating.
Once I got the call, I was fully kitted up, fully trained and itching to go. It was intense, I had never been to that service before or met Stuart and when I left, I had a lump in my throat. We are facing a terrible scourge, but I felt safe. I wanted to make a difference and I certainly did that!
“When I first heard about the rapid response team, I wanted to help. It is no one’s fault if staff levels are low because of coronavirus, these are terrible times and we all can support each other. Imagine if no one helped – what would have happened to Stuart?
“It could have been a bit daunting being locked down for a week in his flat – he had tested positive for covid – but I looked like I was going to work for a nuclear power station, so it didn’t worry me.
What you get back from this job is worth so much.
“I have worked for FitzRoy for almost 10 years, and this was my first job in care and I have to say I absolutely love it. I get so much from the job, they are my second family, whatever the people we support show you is genuine, it warms me. It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy this job – it is about the emotional rewards, rather than the financial. What you get back from this job is worth so much.”
If you would like to join Team FitzRoy, take a look at our latest vacancies. We are always on the look out for compassionate, caring and creative people to join us.
