At times of crisis, heroes emerge

By Steve Palmer, SCIE Communications Manager and parent carer

Do you know what a Nerf gun is? It’s a heavy plastic firing toy weapon that emits felt bullets. (Other heavy plastic firing toy weapons that emit felt bullets are available). During Week One of the crisis my son Stanley appeared over my shoulder and in full view of two of my colleagues on a video conference call. He then brought the Nerf gun crashing down on my head.

• SCIE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care
• Steve's list of COVID-19 support for learning disabilities and autism

The incident really upset me because I do like to keep home and work life apart. In a normal world they complement each other. But this isn’t a normal life and we’re coping just like many other families are coping. My son has a learning disability and often displays challenging behaviour. Stanley’s Down’s Syndrome has never restricted us as a family but I’m not going to sugar-coat it: That concept is being stretched to breaking point at the moment.

My two colleagues were very generous in saying that it didn’t matter about ‘Nerfgate’ and I appreciate that. I really do. Because in times of crisis, in extraordinary times, I am realising that extraordinary people shine. We all know that all frontline workers are now all being praised for the efforts they are putting in. Our Chair, Paul Burstow, co-wrote a letter to supermarkets about how care workers shouldn’t have to show NHS ID cards (that they don’t own) just to get into designated shopping sessions. And since then care workers have been given more thought perhaps by society in general.

• Letter about supermarkets

And I feel lucky. I’ve heard of families living in small flats who are cooped up with young adults with autism who are completely thrown by the change in routine; and sleep deprivation and chaos is really kicking in.

But then there are the heroes. When this all first started, one of the charities that supports Stan, Keen London, immediately started a Whatsapp group, they got everyone to put rainbows in their windows and they’ve have stayed in constant contact. Stan’s just done a keep-fit session with them at the time of writing. They are the very definition of pastoral care. And others, from the Saracens Sports Foundation to Stan’s speech and language specialist, have hardly been off video conferencing, making Stan’s life just a little easier, but, crucially, making us feel that there are people out there who understand our predicament.

• Keen London

So let’s salute the heroes. Yes, they’re on the frontline. But they’re also in their living rooms in gym gear or posting encouraging messages that are keeping us going. And I do hope they know that means to a family like ours.

Now where’s that Nerf gun?

• Steve Tweets @downs_dad_uk

The power of stories in our Covid-19 world

By Ryan Wise, Practice Development Manager, SCIE

At a recent workshop for the Social Care Innovation Network project the focus of the conversation turned to the power of stories. This was in the context of thinking about how organisations can develop a strategic asset-based vision and implement this locally. We spoke about how stories can help influence, inform and persuade others to consider a different perspective. This might be sharing a story with a personal account with a commissioner or local councillor about the positive impact of a local citizen led project which provides a space for people to learn and play music.

SCIE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care

Or it might be an individual with lived experience of services sharing with a management team how a kind, compassionate relationship with a support worker brought them back from one of their lowest points and helped them turn their life around. The fact is stories connect us all to our emotions, values and what is to be human.

Stories help us remember what really drives us and makes us who we are. They can in social care contexts help us to realise we have become stuck in scripted responses when working with citizens as they connect us to our intrinsic beliefs and motivations. Whenever I tend to ask a social worker about the best training or talk they have been too professionally, nine times out ten they will share an occasion where they had the privilege of hearing a young person, adult with experience of statutory services or parent share their own story. When I ask why, they share with me it reminded them and connected with them to why they do the job they do.

The system sometimes can desensitise us all, we become robotic in what we do and forget about the importance of interactions and connections. I have been reflecting on stories in our current COVID-19 world, we hear about the brave, inspiring efforts of communities coming together to thousands stepping onto their doorsteps to celebrate our health and care workers. Stories like this are providing us all with hope, with that warm feeling inside and highlighting the brilliant and best qualities of humans. So how about we continue in this vein, let us continue to share stories of kindness, of excellent practice, of social workers and care workers being creative, inspirational and fantastic. 

How to support people with long-term health conditions living in their own homes self-isolating

By John Evans OBE, disability rights, equalities and diversity consultant and trainer and former SCIE trustee

This situation requires much vigilance and responsibility for PAs/Carers who support disabled people, as the virus could be life-threatening for these people. It is as important for the PAs themselves to maintain their good health at the same time. This blog is directed at people who are self-isolating and their PAs or carers who help to support them.

SCIE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care

Coronavirus is present here in Hampshire and Portsmouth so keen awareness is required whilst it is increasing.

It is important to try and act in ways which can protect these people, particularly those self-isolating as well as yourself. The government is encouraging people with different health conditions and people over 70 to self-isolate and might in the end make that a formal obligation.

People need to be sure they have adequate supplies of protective clothing for their PAs and carers like gloves, gowns or aprons. It is now very difficult getting masks even though we are told they are not that effective.

Many experts have proposed how vital social distancing is in order to try and not come into close contact with others in the streets and especially supermarkets and pharmacies. This should apply to everything. The government today has discouraged people from any non-essential contact with others.

While the coronavirus is still rampant and increasing daily, it is best to do online shopping to avoid going into supermarkets. If it is required on the odd occasion, then one should specify to one’s support workers to choose quiet times to make visits to supermarkets when not many people are there. What is also worrying is that many supermarkets are running out of soap, gel, antibacterial wipes etc which are all vital to people with long-term health conditions in maintaining appropriate high standards of hygiene. I am a severely disabled person with respiratory difficulties and employ my own PAs. We are self-isolating along with my wife and do not allow anybody in to my house. Thankfully we have a community support group doing shopping as well as some friends so we are lucky particularly no with supermarkets not having delivery slots available.

Obviously stay well away from others who might be coughing or sneezing in the near vicinity.

Whenever returning to the disabled people’s homes always wash your hands thoroughly straight away. Wash them again after you have put the provisions away and throughout the day and night.

It is best to avoid outside contact as this is where the virus could be picked up, so be careful even when mixing with friends. Some people are more aware than others of the seriousness of the situation. I am hearing stories all the time about people who do not seem to be taking it seriously and are still mixing in groups!

This situation now requires much more rigid and robust hygienic actions in everything to restrict any possibility of bacteria and germs developing.

Experts have said it is important to clean the surfaces in the kitchen regularly every day as the virus can last for up to 18 hours. This should also apply to the bathroom, bedroom and living-room.

When receiving packages and mail from outside, one should also wash one’s hands after handling them. Apparently, I read that germs and bacteria can stay on cardboard for up to 24 hours! Provisions from supermarkets should also be cleaned and plastic bags thrown away.

It is also useful to regularly clean door and window handles, as well as light and electrical switches. When preparing food or doing anything else for the person self-isolating, it is crucial to always wash your hands.

Be sure to make any health professionals e.g. district nurses, GPs and others wash their hands if they make visits. I had to instruct the district nurse to wash her hands when she came in last week as she didn’t! I have found it very useful to have a polite notice placed on all entry doors asking people to wash their hands when entering into the home of the person at risk.

Visitors should also be made aware of carrying a fresh tissue with them at all times in case they have to sneeze or cough. Tissue boxes should always be available at all entry doors. However, if one is self-isolating then as hard as it is it is best not to have visitors at all. Hopefully the weather will get better soon so contact in one’s gardens could be possible.