Do you remember the Monty Python sketch about four Yorkshire men and how each one of them seemed determined to out do the others whilst they reminisced about their childhoods?
I guess one of the things we could do in social care is to reminisce about what things used to be like as we were growing up, or when we were working in or using social care services.
It may not be the popular thing to say, however let’s be honest we are now reaping the damage created by years of austerity. Where those in power were completely blind to the extensive damage they were doing to our communities and to the people living in those communities.
Sometimes I hark back to what I believe were kinder times. Times when people who worked in social care were doing the best they could and going further than they were expected to.
Maybe those times are still here. Everyday I see a great deal of kindness care and attention from people who work in social care.
Even though it might feel quite bleak at the moment, there is still plenty to celebrate in social care – and there’s more we can do with our limited resources for the people we support, for their families and for those who are paid to support them.
There are the home care workers out early in the morning often until late at night, in the dark, in the cold, doing everything they can to ensure that people can get up and into bed with dignity, eat some good food and have a little bit of time to chat about the world, or more importantly about what’s been on TV?
There’s the way that many people across social care understand how important it is to coproduce things with the people they are aiming to develop support for.
There is the amount of listening that goes on to try to do the best we can to make things work for people.
There’s the breadth and depth of people in micro social care organisations getting out there and making a difference in their communities.
There are people working in a multitude of different homes – residential care, nursing care, people’s own flats and so on. Enabling people to get the right care and treatment in order to continue living. Doing very complex healthcare type work often for no extra money. People supporting people with a learning disability and or autism to live independently, to learn how to cook, to run their own lives, to be part of their communities to get jobs and feel gainfully active.
People working as personal assistants, directly employed by the people they support, taking the time to get to know people, to build friendships and relationships that will last a lifetime
There are the amazing efforts being made by people to transform very little into something great, and help people move from one part of their life to another.
The protections and safeguarding work that is done to ensure that vulnerable people aren’t abused or mistreated.
There is the readiness to make a difference, to enjoy working with others and take satisfaction from very simple things like a thank-you and a smile.
There’s the energy and enthusiasm to work in partnership with other people and organisations in social care as well as partnership with other people and organisations such as health, education, the police, housing and leisure industries.
There is the imaginative and creative ways in which people find solutions, make things happen and focus on enabling people as much as they can to live the lives that they want to live.
No, it’s not perfect. It never has been and it never will be. However, as long as all of us continue to learn, to celebrate and to enjoy being part of each other’s lives, (whether it’s for a long time or a brief time) this festive season let’s remember that one of the best things you can do is give your time and attention to other people. Not seeking any reward for yourself, just doing the best you can. That’s what people in social care do all year round.
Jim Thomas
December 2024
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