Social workers using DIY virus kits for home visit protection

Social workers are being forced to make DIY protection kits for home visits because of a lack of government equipment, it was claimed today.

Social workers have written to Jeane Freeman asking for PPE for home visits.

In an open letter to the Scottish Government, the Scottish Association of Social Work said that staff were trying to maintain contact with vulnerable children during the coronavirus outbreak, but had not been issued with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) unlike other frontline workers.

The lettter comes as Scottish Labour also revealed that schools were donating, and even producing, PPE for delivery to NHS staff.

Alistair Brown, National Director of the Scottish Association of Social Work said the Covid-19 outbreak was putting social workers under immense stress, and the lack of PPE was adding to their concerns, with some resorting to kitchen-table fixes to protect themselves.

In the letter he said: “Social workers across Scotland are facing the immense challenge of trying to maintain the vital support they deliver to vulnerable children and adults during the coronavirus crisis.

“We have had a concerning number of reports of members making their own protection kits for home visits, including the use of thermal flasks, bowls of water and soap due to inadequate supplies being issued from employers. Social workers, like other front-line staff, should not be required to carry out face to face duties without appropriate PPE.

“We do not doubt the concerns of our members, outlined in the letter sent today, are shared by the Scottish Government and we look forward to action and a response being advanced as a priority to minimize the risk of infection - not just to social workers and those they support – but to the general public.”

Writing to Health Secretary Jeane Freeman and Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People, he said a survey of more than 1,200 social workers across the UK had shown there was a lack of PPE, and some local authorities were incorrectly catagorising social workers and leaving them without childcare.

Mr Brown said that “without exception”, social workers must be provided with appropriate PPE to use when carrying out child and adult protection home visits, that there must be “consistent protocols and resources” to enable social workers to work safely.

“Many social workers are worried about how to carry out statutory duties in the face of mass isolation,” he said. “They are concerned about the increase of abuse, neglect and mental ill health, and of trying to safeguard people through remote working and video calls.”

Raising the issue of childcare, he added: “Social workers are key workers and their children, as with the children of other key workers, must be looked after to allow them to continue to do their jobs.

“In some local authorities they have been deemed Category 2 ‘key workers’, although it has been left up to individual local authorities to decide whether they agree with that status. Some workers are still awaiting confirmation of their status, as there is no uniformity to categorisation.

“Social workers provide an essential service every day in terms of social justice and protection and are dedicated to continuing to provide this throughout the crisis. Their children, as with other key workers, must be looked after whilst they carry out vital work across Scotland.”

The Scottish Government has said that 34 million pieces of PPE has been delivered to frontline staff in the past fortnight, but the focus has been on NHS and social care staff. GPs are also expected to receive eight weeks worth of PPE this week.

However Scottish Labour today said that more needed to be done, as there were schools donating goggles and safety visors to meet requests from frontline workers in hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and pharmacies.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Monica Lennon said the initiatives underlined a national shortage of PPE and urged the Scottish Government to launch a scheme to send protective goggles from schools to health and social care services, which would otherwise go unused in empty classrooms.

In a letter to Jeane Freeman, Ms Lennon says Larbert and Denny high schools in Falkirk are already donating safety goggles and making visors for health and care staff.

She said: “PPE shortages are a big concern, and it’s heart-warming to see teachers and local businesses coming together to donate and make supplies for those on the frontline who face the greatest risk.

“Larbert and Denny High Schools are leading the way by getting science goggles out of locked-down classrooms and into the hands of health and care workers who are leading the charge against coronavirus. It’s satisfying to know that school supplies are reaching the frontline instead of sitting in empty classrooms.

“Ultimately, the buck stops with the Scottish Government to ensure our frontline workers are not put in danger because of PPE shortages. I have written to Ministers to seek an assurance that adequate supplies of PPE are immediately available.”

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.