Avoid at all costs - Support Worker Affinity Trust Employee Review

Thank you for your feedback. As you know covid-19 has affected the social care sector, and all providers have had difficulty covering shifts. We use a regular agency to support us and we pay our staff extra if working over 37.5 hours, in recognition that they are supporting us to cover shifts. Pay for workers is a real concern in the sector which the government is aware of. Recently we have just increased the hourly rate for our staff. We give thank-you cards with £25 to staff who have been nominated for the great work they do, and our twice-yearly Star Awards recognise great support. We provide our staff with all the training they need and pay for them to complete their apprenticeships. We have developed a step-up programme for those staff interested in management progression. In fact several of our current managers started as support workers. The issues you raise were formally addressed but, due to confidentiality, actions taken would not be shared with you. We have robust safeguarding and whistleblowing policies, with all concerns investigated. We have tried to be even more open by setting up Safe Call, where staff can make contact with someone outside the company to raise any concerns. Louise Fossey Divisional Director, South East, Bedford and Northamptonshire