A whole new world, for now

in_need_of_direction

Today our wonderful IT provider is coming on site to meet the funding deadline and get machines installed for service users.  It’s extra work and disruption for staff but will provide an outlet for the cooped up clients.  It is so so good.  It means I need to go in a bit earlier as does the chef to get a lift but it also means that we will get away earlier today.

yesterday, an employee due back from sick leave advised that she is to stay at home for 13 weeks.  Does anyone know what happens after the 13 weeks if the virus is still around? Plus our possible additional resource failed to show.  I’m worried about the pressure other staff are feeling.  I have reduced the shift numbers to reflect the reduction in occupancy and to hopefully give working staff some time away.  

Today I have to tackle the only staff member who has been using this as an opportunity to do less.  This won’t be pleasant but it absolutely needs done as he is one of our cleaning staff so more critical than ever.  Right time to go.

today I am grateful for 
a supplier who sees the difference their input could make
staff who are close to bending over backwards to help
access to workplace meals that reduces the need for shopping etc

beanielou

Hope your day goes well 😊🌈

milann

As far as I understand the 13 weeks could extend with the guidelines 😱😱
Good news on the IT👍

Cherryfudge

Excellent news on the IT provision, I hope it's all gone to plan?

I would imagine it's as Milann says about the thirteen weeks, really time scales are probably guess work. It could be more or less. Tests and vaccines are the way forward. I just hope they can get a vaccine sooner rather than later because that or 100% testing seem to me the only way to be sure people can be completely safe.

in_need_of_direction

So the member of cleaning staff called yesterday to advise that he’d be sending in a 2 week med cert and we lost another staff member. We have one staff member who is being an absolute star. We are attempting to limp on with the reduction in service users.  The kit was installed yesterday which was great though because of lack of space for social distancing, there will be usage restrictions.  

I finished early yesterday then, despite having work to do, sat and watched afternoon quiz shows followed by EastEnders and Holby.  I also sorted out post, got some hoovering done and things put back where they should be.  Ours must be the only house more neglected by someone working from home.  That said, dh has now got year end over the line (yesterday was a late one). 

Our dry dog food arrived from amazon yesterday along with an aerial type thing that gives us all the channels we haven’t been able to get.  Our last aerial couldn’t even give us itv.  So, for less than £10, another toleration has been addressed.  

Yesterday our council reinstated food and garden waste collections that they had suspended.  They are the biggest NI council, with largest staff but their default was to reduce service not even consider redeployment of those staff who cannot do their normal day job.  We will stockpile our recycling in the garage until centres open or collection resumes.  Need to get motoring as I think I’m going to have to find something to iron. I am trying to stick with short sleeves and easily washed at higher temperature clothes.  

Today I am grateful for 
the positivity in another’s post
dog food supplies though she would quite happily just eat human food
contact from one friend

in_need_of_direction

Oh, I almost forgot.  Yesterday I jumped my year end gun a bit and bought premium bonds with my tax provision.  This means they will be entered into the May draw whereas if I’d left it a day later, I’d have lost a month

beanielou

Good news on the premium bonds 

Hope your day goes well 😊🌈

jwil

Happy Belated Birthday!

Councils across the country have suspended garden waste collections.  They are not a statutory service and so often the first one to be dropped to enable normal rubbish and recycling collections to continue. Redeployment is one solution but it relies on there being sufficient staff available to redeploy - rubbish collection is very physical, and also there are huge demands for redeployment to Social care and other community roles.  Even with enough staff willing to take part, there needs to be enough  drivers and that is always an issue regardless of any plagues!

Chrystal

I really hope you win the Jackpot in Mays premium bond draw! XX

in_need_of_direction

Thanks Chrystal.  I will remember my friends.  

Jwil, the issue with our bin collection is that they initially cancelled all but general waste.  They have reinstated food waste collections as directed by the minister.  However, our food waste bin normally gets picked up on recycling day that they haven’t reinstated so the advice is to put the food waste into the garden waste bin which they will empty as this is collected on the same day as general waste.  

Yesterday our service users reduced by one. On the plus side, I have managed to recruit a two shift a week locum to help get us through this.  She was recently employed by one of the health trusts so while not ideal, we can place reliance on her police checks for there while we wait for ours to come through.  Plus I have known her for about ten years.
It may also provide a wake up call for some who believe that we can be bullied and held to ransom.  

On other news, I attended a free webinar last night by John Parkin and Gaia.  If I wrote the name of their business, it’d be blocked out.  It dealt with the emotions people are dealing with and was a safe place to share.  They are doing a paid one session a week for eight weeks that I’m thinking of doing.  At worst, it makes me carve out two hours a week to think and reflect.  For that alone I think it’s maybe worthwhile. At best, it may help me relax as I know I’m wound tighter than a spring.

today I am on chef taxi duty so need to get going.
today I am grateful for 
help from a friend
the webinar
a possible new initiative that might help