Council staff redeployed to keep services operating

Moray Council workers who have redeployed from their roles to support critical services have been praised.

Teams at the authority have been thrown together within days to keep vital lifelines operating and supplies running.

The group coordinating PPE for care homes, carers and social workers is one of the busiest and includes a mobile library driver, roads maintenance crews and employees who liaise with contractors.

Hamish Johnston, who is leading the team, said: “They all came into the team knowing the importance of the job we had to do.

“They have done, and continue to do, a remarkable job. I am very impressed and grateful for their efforts.

“The team has overcome some difficult challenges, but despite only working together for a short time, they are close-knit, work well together and, most importantly, are a team.”

Elsewhere, leisure centre staff from Lossiemouth and Keith have started deliveries of essential supplies to vulnerable people.

And health and safety officer Julia Allan has become a call handler in the Grampian Coronavirus Assistance Hub.

She said: “This role involves taking calls from members of the public who may be shielding, may be elderly or have medical conditions that mean they are not advised to leave their house.

“We also help those who do not have any family or friends who are nearby to help them with things like

“I’m proud of how our staff have responded”

going shopping, collecting prescriptions or medicines, dog walking or even just having someone to talk to.”

Chief executive Roddy Burns has praised staff for going “above and beyond” their normal duties.

He said: “The last few months have seen rapid change, at a time when we’ve faced personal and professional challenges like we’ve never experienced before in our lifetimes. I’m proud of how our staff have responded to these.”