Caring faces of our community
A CARE worker has received a show of appreciation for her work throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Rachel Scott has been pictured on the side of a Tyne and Wear fire engine.
She is one the region’s frontline workers who have been chosen to appear on publicfacing vehicles to honour their service throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
And her work has left one Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service staff member particularly grateful for her commitment to care throughout the last year.
Rachel, 46, said: “People working in a wide variety of different jobs from the care community to the emergency services have played an integral role fighting against Covid.
“I’m very privileged residents recognise me from being pictured on the side of the vehicles as they realise I’m a real person with a real job helping to look after local people.”
Rachel’s commitment to public service has been highlighted as part of Beat Covid NE, a region-wide campaign to provide guidance about how the public can continue to tackle Covid-19 in their daily lives.
Keyworkers faces have been spotted on vehicles such as Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service fire appliances and local authority refuse collection trucks.
Rachel added: “This campaign perfectly highlights our community spirit as we are all in this together, fighting the same fight.”
Rachel, from Festival Park, Gateshead, has worked for the past 10 years at Fountain Court, an Extra Care Housing scheme in Bensham, which is operated by Housing 21.
Throughout the coronavirus crisis she has been a vital key worker continuing to help look
after the 40 tenants at Fountain Court.
Her daughter Hazell, six, now believes her mum is famous as she has become recognised throughout the community after appearing on the side of fire engines. And when the nation were clapping for key workers on a Thursday evening, Hazell’s school friends told her they were clapping for her mum.
Rachel’s work has been particularly important to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s employee, Sarah Iceton, who works as a crew manager at Gateshead Community Fire Station. Sarah’s dad, Melvin, is a tenant at Fountain Court and Rachel is one of his care workers, as well as Sarah’s “communication lifeline” to her Dad while family members have been unable to visit residents.
During lockdown Melvin, 68, was hospitalised for several weeks at the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead with a serious infection, which turned out to be Covid-19.
But when he returned home, Rachel went above and beyond to help the family and lift Melvin’s spirits after a difficult few weeks.
Sarah’s firefighter colleagues from Green Watch also stopped by the home and helped her to spell out “Love U Dad” using fire equipment to cheer Melvin up.
Sarah said: “Rachel could see my distress and always tried to reassure me. She goes above and beyond in everything she does, and is the most amazing person.
“We will never be thankful enough for how great she and the other staff have been during these times.
“She has the biggest heart and is the type of person who inspires you to be a kinder version of yourself without even knowing it.”