The front line of public services; caring and compassion
no matter what
by Kieron Green Moray UNISON
There is often a public perception that everyone who is
employed by the council works in an office, is paid a generous
salary and will receive a ‘gold plated’ pension when they
retire.
That is certainly not the case for most workers.
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Well paid? Gold Plated Pension? Hardly!
Helen has worked for Moray Council for five years.
Her contract is16 hours a week at £8.26 an hour. She
usually works extra hours, but these vary, and do
not count towards her pension.
Pay: £6,870 pa (contracted).
Pension: Based on current service Helen would
retire on Lump sum £1020 Weekly pension £8.78
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Helen Hardie is a Home Carer based in Keith. On the front
line of public services, she is one of many who deliver
essential services to the community. For Helen a typical
day begins at 6am as her first care of the day is at 7:15am.
This is the first of six morning visits. For some it is
a case of prompting them to take medicines. Others need
more help and she may have to prepare food, ensure they
are eating and taking medication, provide personal care,
and help around the house.
It’s then off for a 18 mile round trip out into the country
for lunch cares for three people. Once a month Helen will
have to repeat the journey for a set of teatime cares.
Her working day finishes with four ‘bed’ cares and Helen
finally gets home around 9pm – finishing her working day
nearly 14 hours after it began.
Vulnerable people still need care no matter what the weather,
and this winter Home Carers have delivered their service
despite the severe conditions.
With driving difficult or impossible carers have had to
resort to walking between clients’ homes.
Despite the dangerous state of the pavements and the cold
temperatures there hasn’t been enough money to provide them
with adequate footwear or winter clothing.
Instead carers have been told provide their own. Home care
is one of a number of council services often contracted
out across Scotland.
Conditions for staff working for private and voluntary
sector Home Care providers can often be far worse. There,
staff are often poorly trained and supported, get paid only
just above the minimum wage, and are lucky to have a pension.
It is the clients who suffer as a result of a lack of training
and poorly motivated staff.
Moray Council has recently taken over work that a private
company was providing, due to the inadequate level of care
being provided. With the council, carers have a regular
training program and now have to study towards SVQs. This
ensures that staff have the necessary skills and experience
to deliver a level of care the public deserve.
Carers do not do their job for the money or glamour. Their
reward is making a difference in the lives of some of the
most vulnerable in society.
A lot is expected from carers explains Helen, “A carer
needs a strong backbone, have a good mental balance, be
physically fit, genuine, honest, reliable and compassionate
– that’s what makes a carer.”
For the full story, see Moray Matters UNISON mag at www.morayunison.com/
newsletters/mm-10-mar.pdf
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