Whitby Care Home Protects Residents with Staff Lock-in

UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / April 03, 2020 / Independent residential care home Peregrine House in Whitby is one of the first in the country to implement a plan to enable their vulnerable residents and staff to be provided increased protection against the danger of exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

Owner Dr Kevin O’Sullivan, Registered Manager Alison Bedford and Deputy Manager Megan Collis spearheaded the ‘lock-in’ initiative which means staff will isolate themselves from all but colleagues and residents.

The stringent precautions have been made possible with the co-operation of a local hotel proprietor, Richard Newton of The Saxonville. As the hotel is currently closed to the public, along with all other hospitality businesses, Mr Newton has contracted rooms to Peregrine House at a concessionary rate during the crisis in order to safely accommodate staff from the care home, removing the need for them to travel to and from their own homes and families each day.

Alison Bedford will lead the team of 30 staff who have agreed to work alternating 12-hour day and night shifts, week on and week off, to care for the 35 elderly and convalescing residents at the home. She explains “The arrangement will cut down by 90% the comings and goings at Peregrine House which carry risk of exposure. It shows enormous commitment, as these staff members will not be able to see their own family and friends during the time they are working the lock-in.”

Alison and Deputy Manager Megan Collis will oversee the initial 14-day stretch.

Peregrine House has also made available four places for patients from the local hospital in order to free up NHS beds. In recent years it was the first residential home in the country to receive a 5-star rating in all categories by the regulatory body, the Care Quality Commission and Alison Bedford is a former winner of Registered Manager of the Year at the Great British Care Awards.