TY - JOUR
T1 - ‘I wasn’t on the front line per se, but I was part of health care’
T2 - Contributions and experiences of ancillary staff in care homes in England during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Luijnenburg, Olivia
AU - Samsi, Kritika
AU - Kessler, Ian
AU - Norrie, Caroline
AU - Martineau, Stephen
AU - Manthorpe, Jill
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (grant number: NIHR202293). Dr Samsi and Professor Manthorpe are supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration South London (NIHR ARC South London) at King\u2019s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS, or the Department of Health and Social Care.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - Objectives: Ancillary staff – cleaning, catering, housekeeping and laundry workers – play a crucial role in care homes, by promoting infection control, food preparation and hygiene, and contributing to the care home environment. This study sought to understand the experiences of ancillary staff working in English care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results will inform policy makers, employers, care home managers and others, both in England and overseas, as how to best support the ancillary workforce. Methods: Between March and August 2021, video and telephone interviews were conducted with those working or living in care homes in England. Participants comprised ancillary staff (n = 38), care home managers (n = 8), care home residents’ family members and friends (n = 7), human resource managers (n = 5) and care home residents (n = 5). Results: Ancillary staff often had increased responsibilities and contributed to pandemic efforts by changing working practices, routines and job roles with the aim of supporting residents and other staff. Teamwork, underpinned by strong leadership, helped ancillary staff feel supported. Conclusions: Ancillary staff should be better recognised as being central to care home care. They are essential workers helping to keep residents safe and well.
AB - Objectives: Ancillary staff – cleaning, catering, housekeeping and laundry workers – play a crucial role in care homes, by promoting infection control, food preparation and hygiene, and contributing to the care home environment. This study sought to understand the experiences of ancillary staff working in English care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results will inform policy makers, employers, care home managers and others, both in England and overseas, as how to best support the ancillary workforce. Methods: Between March and August 2021, video and telephone interviews were conducted with those working or living in care homes in England. Participants comprised ancillary staff (n = 38), care home managers (n = 8), care home residents’ family members and friends (n = 7), human resource managers (n = 5) and care home residents (n = 5). Results: Ancillary staff often had increased responsibilities and contributed to pandemic efforts by changing working practices, routines and job roles with the aim of supporting residents and other staff. Teamwork, underpinned by strong leadership, helped ancillary staff feel supported. Conclusions: Ancillary staff should be better recognised as being central to care home care. They are essential workers helping to keep residents safe and well.
KW - ancillary staff
KW - care home
KW - COVID-19
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190824280&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/13558196241246178
DO - 10.1177/13558196241246178
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85190824280
SN - 1355-8196
VL - 29
SP - 143
EP - 152
JO - Journal of Health Services Research and Policy
JF - Journal of Health Services Research and Policy
IS - 3
ER -