Care service recognised with award for Covid work
A Black Country specialist social care service has been recognised for its approach to the first national Covid-19 lockdown.
Progress Care Solutions, which works to provide specialist services to vulnerable children and young adults, was named winner of the Outstanding Support During Covid-19 category at the 2020 Best Business Awards.
As lockdown came into force in March 2020, Progress prioritised the care of those that relied on it for critical support. It assigned drivers, offering a ring-and-ride service to its workforce to eliminate the use of public transport and minimise the exposure risks.
It also offered a triage service to families, to deal with any crisis that might arise and made available some flats as isolation units, so it could keep people safe and offered that resource to local authority partners.
Progress continued its work supporting young people, offering digital support services and keeping them engaged with a wide range of activities.
The judges for the BBA awards praised Progress Care for its quick and decisive action in locking down and keeping residents and staff safe during the pandemic.
The head judge said: “After seeing the devastation coronavirus was causing in Italy earlier in 2020, Progress was quick to lock down earlier than other care homes to protect its vulnerable residents both young and old.
“Non-essential visitors were asked not to attend care homes, virtual forms of communication were set up so residents could keep in touch with loved ones
“Congratulations to Progress Care for having the foresight to act quickly and keep people safe.”
Claire Rogers, managing director of Progress, said maintaining a high standard was important and became even more so during lockdown.
She said: “Keeping our core values at the heart of our decision making has been our strength, providing a fixed point from which to navigate. It is wonderful to have been recognised.”
