Appeal for more West Sussex care workers during coronavirus pandemic

West Sussex residents who have lost their jobs due to the impact of coronavirus are being urged to apply for jobs in the care industry to support elderly and vulnerable residents.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The county’s care homes and home care providers are anticipating a huge demand for their services as the outbreak continues.

A West Sussex County Council initiative called Proud to Care is targeting people from the travel, leisure, retail and hospitality industries as they have the ideal skills and experience to succeed in care work.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Christina Handasyde Dick, founder of Chichester-based Guardian Angel Carers, said: “As a home care provider we are on a major recruitment drive at the moment, as we are providing essential services to vulnerable adults in their own home at this challenging time.

Christina Handasyde Dick, founder of Chichester-based Guardian Angel Carers, has helped highlight the importance of the county's care industryChristina Handasyde Dick, founder of Chichester-based Guardian Angel Carers, has helped highlight the importance of the county's care industry
Christina Handasyde Dick, founder of Chichester-based Guardian Angel Carers, has helped highlight the importance of the county's care industry

“We desperately want to support our local hospitals to discharge patients as efficiently as possible, and to be able to continue to support them in the comfort of their own home.

People from all sorts of career backgrounds can make great carers, if you are a compassionate, professional and reliable individual that would love an incredibly rewarding role to support your local community, please help.”

The Proud To Care website – www.proudtocarewestsussex.com – has details of around 300 full-time and part-time positions available with care providers across West Sussex.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As well as supporting the care sector which helps some of our most vulnerable residents, the county council also aims to support our local economy and those who have been affected by the impact on it by the coronavirus outbreak.

Amanda Jupp, the county council’s cabinet member for adults and health, said: “This is a very difficult time for so many of us, particularly those who are vulnerable or live alone. There are, no doubt, a number of people in the travel, leisure, hospitality or retail sectors who unfortunately may have lost their jobs due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

“We would very much like to reach out to those people to help find them paid employment supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community. By doing this we will not only increase the workforce in the care sector at this critical time but also help to support the local economy by keeping people in jobs.

“Many people will have transferable skills that make them well suited to working in care and I would urge them to help us by responding to one of the biggest challenges ever faced by the health and care sector.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Protecting and caring for vulnerable people at this present time is our greatest priority.”

Care workers are classed as key workers and their safety and well-being and those that are being cared for is the highest priority. Anyone working in care will be trained and supported to make sure care is delivered safely and effectively. Interviews may take place over the phone or video and training may be done online, where possible.

Care work involves making sure vulnerable people feel safe are comfortable, by supporting with preparing their meals, washing, getting dressed and providing companionship.

Anyone interested can apply for jobs online through the website and contact the Proud to Care team who can answer any questions and give guidance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

But I also have an urgent plea to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality local news on this free-to-read site and in print, please purchase a copy of our newspaper as well. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on our town centres and many of our valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you buying a copy.

Our journalists are highly trained by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards anywhere in the world. Our content is universally trusted - as all independent research proves.

As Baroness Barran said in a House of Lords debate this week on the importance of journalists: “Not only are they a trusted source of facts, but they will have a role to play in rallying communities and getting the message across about how we can keep ourselves and our families safe, and protect our NHS. Undoubtedly, they have a critical role.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. In return we will continue to forensically cover the local news - not only the impact of the virus but all the positive and uplifting news happening in these dark days.

In addition, please write to your MP urging the Government to provide some additional financial support for local newspapers and their websites like this one and ensuring that supermarkets continue to stock them. I cannot stress enough how important such an intervention would be.

We thank all our readers and advertisers for their understanding and support - and we wish YOU all the best in the coming weeks. Keep safe, and follow the Government advice. Thank you.