As of Friday May 01:
• PPE is being made available for carers and personal assistants through Dundee HUB;
• Messages of support received from family members of individuals receiving care;
• The Rotary Club of Dundee have donated hand cream to Partnership Social Care staff.
New guidance from the Scottish Government continues to emphasise that carers and personal assistants should continue to try and source their own PPE stock, however, we recognise that this is increasingly difficult to do.
To support families, their carers and personal assistants in Dundee, are able to access PPE through a HUB system located at the West District Housing Office.
Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Councillor Ken Lynn said: “This provision is in place to help with supplying the care sector in the city and will be particularly important in ensuring that our unpaid and family carers and personal assistants have access to adequate PPE.
“We understand that it is increasingly difficult to get PPE and where care providers and care homes find themselves short they should request stock from the Dundee HUB.
“I would urge anyone who provides care to friends or family members to get in touch and use this route to ensure that you have all that you need to carry out this vital role.”
Carers and personal assistants who require PPE out of hours should contact the Safety Alarm Response Centre (SARC) on 01382 432424. They will agree a mutually convenient time for collection. Full details on how to get PPE will be available from the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership website on Monday.
Displays of support from across the city for Health and Social Care staff have been made in a number of ways. From the #DundeeRainbows social media campaign to sending in messages of thanks about the level of care family members have received.
One daughter of a client receiving care and support during this time said, “I want you to know I really appreciate the hard work and dedication shown at this time.
“You all deserve to know how much you are appreciated, especially at this time but also at all times for your help and dedication to others who are vulnerable at all times.”
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Dundee have been thanked by Social Care staff for their generous donation of hand cream.
The Partnership staff are caring for the most vulnerable people in the community at this time and welcomed the news of the additional safety materials.
The full list of council services affected by Coronavirus can be found on the Dundee City Council website.
As of Monday May 4:
• The council is promoting #MentalHealthMondays to highlight simple steps we can all take to help our mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Although schools closed for normal business in March due to coronavirus, learning is continuing for thousands of young people across Dundee.
An important step forward for senior pupils in secondary schools begins this week (from Monday May 4) when timetables change to include recent course choices.
Pupils from S3 onwards will be starting a new school year in a range of subjects, and teaching staff will also be getting in touch with young people to assist with the transition.
This change demonstrates how learning and teaching in Dundee has transformed to meet the challenges posed by coronavirus closures.
Schools are now using online resources and staff are working to help ensure as much continuity in young people’s learning as possible.
From nurseries onwards, educational establishments are keeping families informed through Twitter feeds, which are showing them the huge range of educational assets that are available.
City council children and families convener Councillor Stewart Hunter is praising families and school staff for their efforts during the crisis.
He said: “The timetable change in secondary school will help give these young people a sense of momentum on their educational journey and I would like to thank everyone who has helped to make the arrangements and put them in place.
“I am aware that there is anxiety around what will be happening around exam results, but I would ask that everyone waits until the SQA completes its process around these matters.
“We want to reassure everyone that we are carefully thinking now about the way ahead.
“The council, alongside nurseries and schools, will continue to keep families informed about developments.”
Meanwhile, the council is highlighting simple steps we can all take to help our mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic through the #MentalHealthMondays campaign.
Social media posts are signposting people to the Clear You Head Website at https://bit.ly/2KQJlNg
Messages on the council’s channels encourage people to maintain a routine, stay active and avoid stress to help them stay safe and well.
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
