Social care heroes celebrated in Herts
17 July 2019, 06:00
The work of social care workers is being celebrated in Hertfordshire this month to highlight the work they do.
It's all part of Hertfordshire County Council's Good Care campaign aimed at encouraging more people to think about a career working in adult social care.
There are currently 31,000 people working in adult social care in Hertfordshire, but each year 4,000 new care workers need to be recruited to keep pace with an increasing demand for care services in the county.
At Hertfordshire County Council, the authority have been lobbying for greater recognition and rewards for care workers so that more people are attracted to working in care.
The council says they value their care workers and are constantly looking for initiatives to improve standards and learning and development opportunities.
Hertfordshire care providers - including care homes and home care agencies, will be hosting events to celebrate care workers and the people they support.
They will also be taking to social media to share their good care stories.
Hertfordshire County Council says this is a great opportunity to join in the conversation about good care and to post messages of support and thanks for care workers who look after a loved one or a friend.
In a video commissioned by the authority - a former nurse and midwife, Valerie, says she enjoys her work visiting people with additional needs in their own homes, helping to support them with their day-to-day lives and getting out and about.
Valerie (pictured) says:
"I've always loved to care. I've cared all my life. I've been a nurse, a midwife, I've been all that. But caring for someone who cannot really care for themselves is a really fulfilling feeling… My clients tell me "thank you" almost all the time and I am like "I am doing my job", but they say "you are doing above and beyond for me".
That touches you and you feel very appreciative of these people and it makes you want to do more for them."
It takes a special person to be a care worker like Valerie. You can find out more about her rewarding role by watching this video at:
http://bit.ly/2xrRYad
