Social care frontline workers make COVID vaccine history
Social care staff at Oxfordshire County Council are making history today by being some of the first people in the country to receive a Covid-19 vaccination.
Anne Wagner, Team Manager for the acute hospitals team based at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, is the lucky individual to receive the first vaccination among Oxfordshire County Council staff – receiving her first dose earlier this afternoon.
Anne, who has been with the council for 19 years, is a key member of the council’s social care leadership team and an active frontline worker. She worked as Practice Supervisor before managing acute social care teams at the Horton hospital and now the John Radcliffe.
Her team has been crucial in supporting the Oxfordshire system during the pandemic, keeping those who need care and support safe while working on hospital wards to achieve this. Anne says, “Hospital social care is all about working closely together with our residents and health colleagues to get the best possible outcomes for people.”
Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Oxfordshire County Council’s Lead Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It is great news that we have been able to begin vaccinating some key members of our social care workforce and the over 80s before Christmas. The social care workforce has carried out an incredible job, playing a key role throughout this pandemic to keep vulnerable individuals safe. This is on top of continuing to deliver ongoing care and support to those who need it.”
Stephen Chandler, Oxfordshire County Council’s Corporate Director of Adult Social Care, also emphasised the importance of people getting the vaccine: “Vaccination is so important to prevent the spread of infection to ensure our care and health services are able to meet the needs of our communities as we successfully work together across Oxfordshire to beat COVID-19. Adult Social Care along with our partners have played a pivotal role in the Oxfordshire system during the pandemic so I’m really pleased that the vaccine role out has started.”
In spite of the added pressures of the pandemic this year, Oxfordshire County Council’s social care teams have continued to provide exceptional care to residents across the county. This has included:
- Continuing to provide a 24/7 mental health service completing over 100 Mental Health Act assessments each month.
- Responding to 22 per cent increase in demand and still reducing waiting times.
- Increasing homecare hours provided by over 20 per cent - supporting the ambition to support more people at home.