Staffordshire thanks social care workers on National Day of Remembrance

Thousands of social care workers in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent who helped the country through the Covid-19 pandemic are being thanked and remembered today (March 17).

More than 20,000 social care workers worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to protect the most vulnerable, often working in difficult conditions just to keep people’s loved ones safe.

Now, social care workers across the country are being celebrated and remembered in a national Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection on March 17, organised by Skills for Care.

Staffordshire County Council has joined with Stoke-on-Trent Council, Skills for Care and social care partners across England to honour the work of the adult social care workforce throughout the pandemic, and remember those who unfortunately lost their lives to the virus.

Residents are also being encouraged to post their own messages of thanks or remembrance on the Care Worker’s Charity memorial wall.

Julia Jessel, Cabinet Member for Health and Care said: “The last two years of the pandemic have been incredibly difficult for everyone, not least our 20,000 social care workers who made, and continue to make, huge sacrifices to our most vulnerable people safe. The work by our care workers throughout the pandemic has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it is only fitting that we thank them and remember the sacrifices they have made over the past two years.”

Councillor Ally Simcock, cabinet member for adult social care and health care at Stoke-on-Trent Council said: “Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection is an important day to reflect and remember the great work that our social care colleagues and social care workers throughout the city have done for our most vulnerable, particularly during these last two difficult years. It’s also a time to acknowledge the sacrifices that have been made by all those who have gone above and beyond. Our city has pulled together during this pandemic to help those at risk of the deadly virus and we want to recognise how incredibly tough this has been for everyone. “We hope that everyone can get involved in some small way today, whether it is putting flowers in the window to honour those we have lost or being bereaved or suffered in other ways through long Covid or putting aside some time in our busy lives to reflect on the amazing work we’ve done, just like we did for our NHS counterparts.”

Shirley Way, Locality Manager for Skills for Care said: “It is important to remember the social care staff that sadly lost their lives over the last 2 years and to say thank you to the unsung heroes that work tirelessly in the sector to keep people safe, happy and well on a daily basis. I have been moved by the passion and commitment shown by these professionals throughout this awful time. I have seen managers leave their own homes and families to stay in the care homes to keep residents safe, staff coming up with innovative activities to keep people moving and happy on the darkest of days. I am so proud to be part of this amazing sector.”