Care and support of Next Step Trust staff shines through during a challenging year
support?
Our senior management and board of trustees worked endlessly with the commissioners to come up with a plan safe enough for us to continue our service. From March 25 we started to run a skeleton service.
Many of the families at this point decided to keep their sons and daughters at home where they were able to care for their needs, whereas for some families we were the only support that they had. We were able to offer our service in individual’s homes and limited in house care for those who required further support.
Three of our centres temporarily closed with just one remaining open.
And then there was the PPE! We really struggled to get hold of what we needed but will be forever grateful for the donations of homemade face coverings and face shields from friends in the local community.
A group of our staff even volunteered to work in a council care home which provided care for people who were leaving hospital but were not yet well enough to return home. Our catering team also stepped in to provide meals for the residents there too.
Back at our centre staff kept in touch with families over the phone several times a week to offer support and ensure that everyone was OK. We created a rainbow notice board where staff could leave compliments, well wishes and pick me ups for the rest of the team. I feel so grateful that we had each other through these difficult times.
As the infection rate started to fall we were able to open our centres again. The beauty of having four centres was that we were able to make the most of the space and could adhere to social distancing throughout. By the summer the council had been able to provide us with enough PPE for everyone to remain safe.
As we went into autumn things once again became very uncertain as the pandemic hit the North. As a precaution under guidelines from Calderdale’s infection control team we were advised to close the centres to our young people for two weeks.
For me, it was at this time during the short closure whilst speaking to parents and families that really reminded me of the importance of The Next Step Trust and how vital and essential our support really is. We are working with the new normal and have got into a safe routine. Although things are still so different to normal life we are providing fun and enjoyable days for all who attend. Due to shielding, sadly some of our young people have not yet returned, but we stay hopeful now the vaccine rollout scheme has begun.
Our hopes for 2021 are that we can get Next Step back to how it once was, embracing the wider world, getting out into the community, socialising and making every day count. Although so many negatives have come out of the pandemic, it has brought to light how important the little things are. A friendly face, a telephone call and the support of someone who cares. After 12 years working for the Trust the coronavirus made me stop and think “wow, what an amazing and irreplaceable community the Next Step Trust really is”.
I just want to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of staff for their hard work, selflessness, love and care that they have shown. We couldn’t have done it without you all.
Visit www.nextsteptrust. org.uk for more information.
Our hopes for 2021 are that we can get Next Step back to how it once was, embracing the wider world, getting out into the community, socialising and making every day count.