THE CARER | JUL/AUG 2022 | PAGE 11
Recognition of the Workforce – Call for Fully Funded Minimum Wage Care England is calling for the Government to better support the adult social care workforce by introducing a fully funded minimum wage for adult social care workers in England, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says: “The social care workforce is our biggest asset and care providers are anxious to deliver a new deal for our workforce with clear career pathways and proper remuneration. However, this is impossible on the current funding which we receive from central and local government, and there is a desperate need for significant increases in funding to keep pace with the cost of living crisis and to make care a valued and properly rewarded career. Today, Citizens UK, and various other groups gathered outside the offices of care providers to call for
increases in the pay of care workers. We want to see these increases as well, but these gatherings were in the wrong place, they should have been outside Downing Street, putting pressure on the Government to deliver the funding required to deliver a new deal for social care professionals”. Martin Green continues: “Care England continues to work on behalf of its members to ensure that a long-term workforce strategy is introduced. Social Care services have been through one of the most traumatic periods in living memory and our colleagues have been on the frontline of the global pandemic, yet we have not seen proper recognition or reward for this contribution coming from the Government. In Wales and Scotland, care staff have been given bonuses, yet these have not been paid in England.”
School Garden Launch Sows Seeds of Friendship for Care Home Residents Residents of a Dorset care home have cultivated community links with the opening of a garden at a nearby school. Children and staff at Talbot Primary School in Poole welcomed neighbours from Colten Care’s Bourne View which is just around the corner in Langside Avenue. The Bourne View party, including residents Kathleen Betty, Pat Tharme and Albert Langworthy, enjoyed a tour of the new space and complimented all involved in its planning and opening. It features raised beds enabling all children to take part in gardening activities and the care of plants and flowers. After admiring the layout of the garden and its array of vegetables, wild self-seeded flowers and mixed sunflowers, Pat said: “The displays were beautiful and it was a joy to visit such a lovely garden and see children so full of happiness.” Albert agreed, adding: “This is such a well-tended and peaceful green space.” Pupils have been involved in planting and nurturing the plants and flowers during the past academic
year. Some of the seeds they have planted recently were specially gifted to them from the Tower of London Superblooms display, part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Talbot school Head Teacher Kate Curtis said: “This has been a long-term project and it is great to see it come to fruition. We are so grateful to the Talbot Village Trust for providing the funding and delighted to share this beautiful space with our children, families, and the wider community.” Accompanying the Bourne View residents were staff from the home including Companionship Team member Brian Ramsey and Julie Steele, Customer Advisor. Brian said: “It’s clear that a great deal of work has gone into making this garden so attractive and inspiring. “We congratulate all at Talbot Primary School and thank them for being such great hosts. “They even served us afternoon tea and homemade cakes which was a delightful surprise.”