Lancaster care home worker accepts award for efforts during Covid-19 pandemic

A care home worker in Lancaster has accepted an award in recognition of her efforts during the coronavirus crisis.
Mark Clarke, manager, and Claire Holland, deputy manager, with staff from Chirnside Care Home and their 100 Thank Yous award from The Cumberland.Mark Clarke, manager, and Claire Holland, deputy manager, with staff from Chirnside Care Home and their 100 Thank Yous award from The Cumberland.
Mark Clarke, manager, and Claire Holland, deputy manager, with staff from Chirnside Care Home and their 100 Thank Yous award from The Cumberland.

Claire Holland, deputy manager at Chirnside House, was nominated for a 100 Thank Yous awards, and this week accepted the special plaque on behalf of her colleagues.

She said: “It’s an award for the whole team, and we’ve definitely become a lot more like a big family these past few months.

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“We’re proud and quite humbled, because we’re just doing our job. Care homes are getting a good bit of publicity than we have previously, because most stories are usually pretty negative, so it’s nice that people are recognising the work that we do.”

The 100 Thank Yous campaign was launched by the Cumberland Building Society this spring in recognition of people in the region who have gone above and beyond to help others since the pandemic struck.

Claire and her colleagues were nominated by relatives of one of the residents at Chirnside House for the hard work they have put in under difficult circumstances in recent months.

She continued: “Obviously it’s been really tough, and the guidance is always changing. Things move so quickly that it makes it incredibly difficult to plan.

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“The media doesn’t always portray it fully, and if you don’t work in the care industry you don’t get the full picture. We never switch off, and even at home we’re still risk assessing, planning for the next day, just trying to keep one step ahead.

“You can be told by the council on Friday about measures you need to put in place, and by Monday it’s totally different.

“We have a very good relationship with the relatives of our residents, and they realise just how much hard work goes into running the house. We’ve received a lot of lovely gifts and cards recently.”

Chirnside House’s 36 members of staff, alongside agency workers, have had to implement many new safety measures to keep the home free of coronavirus. Claire said that they are proud of their work during the crisis so far, but she realises that there is potentially still a long way to go.

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“This is nowhere near over, and, if anything, now it is even more risky with things starting to open up,” she added.

“It makes you worry, and we’re still maintaining all the guidelines and social distancing, even if other people aren’t.

“The whole thing has certainly brought the staff here closer together. The three agency staff have been just as much part of the team too.

“Everyone helps each other, whether it’s boosting morale, offering guidance, or even just helping each other with shopping.

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“It was a shock to receive the award, and it’s going on display in the home. It has made everyone involved feel special.”

Des Moore, CEO of The Cumberland, said: “We want to say thank you to people like Claire by telling the stories of 100 people from across our region who have gone the extra mile to help during this crisis.

““We have not been defeated by coronavirus. Though much remains to be done the way we have worked together and looked after each other has helped us prevail.

“Our 100 thank yous is a salute to that.”

Read about all 100 people featured in the campaign here

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