Emergency Measures to fill essential service staff shortages

As we face staff shortages in Menno Home, we are doing everything we can to fill the gaps. Staff in essential services are becoming weary and we need to find creative ways to get help from motivated, safety-conscious people.

We have reached out to restaurants, to schools, to our volunteers and to contracted workers. We are at an emergency level of need to find housekeepers in Menno Home. This has come about by the cloistering of staff to work in only one unit for the duration of the outbreak. There are some staff that are essential who can work in more than one unit (ex. Maintenance). The rest of the staff are assigned to a unit and can’t move between them.

Along with this, our staff who tested negative but don’t work on the COVID outbreak unit in Menno Home were required by the Medical Health Officer to stay in isolation for 14 days. This has made it extremely difficult to find staff to fill the shifts. We have very tired staff working in Menno Home. Thank you, all for your service. We are working hard to get you support.

We had a creative idea – one that would be a WIN-WIN – family members could provide essential services and we would give them opportunity to see their loved one (socially distanced and full PPE) by bringing them on as EMERGENCY FAMILY ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS.

We are inviting them to participate in essential services (housekeeping, dietary, laundry and deliveries) in order to get us through the challenges of exhausting our staff and not having enough staff in place to create a safe environment for residents and staff.

MENNO HOME – EMERGENCY FAMILY ESSENTIAL SERVICE WORKERS

As we face the shortages in essential services, such as housekeeping, food services and laundry, we are reaching out to family and close friends to offer their support as temporary relief workers. We have created an opportunity for family members of our residents to be employed with Menno Home for this short time while we have gaps to fill in staffing – and to give our staff relief. Families are invited to work on the unit where their loved one works.

Family members will be able to connect with your loved one, wearing full PPE and socially distanced during their shift. They must be able to physically do the work, including lifting 20lbs. They do not have to be the Designated Visitor. This is an opportunity for children and grandchildren as well. This emergency program is open to multiple family members of loved ones in Menno Home. They will be required to complete a Vulnerable Persons Criminal Record Check (cost covered by Menno Place).

We are collecting names of family members who are eager to help and we will be contacting them for their support. They will be expected to follow all the protocols of the staff.

We will keep you updated as we progress with this idea and find relief for our staff.