We are delighted to report the following news from Cairn Group showing how our great industry is reacting in times of crisis helping to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Catering, laundry and domestic cleaning staff from Cairn Group’s hotels around the UK will be giving a helping hand to the stretched care home sector.
The Group has 32 hotels across the UK but also seven care homes in the North East and two in Scotland run by its sister companies. To ensure the homes’ residents are looked after at this difficult time for all of us, some of its hospitality workforce are being deployed to where they are most needed.
A hotel staff buddy scheme will boost its care home catering and cleaning teams by placing hotel workers into back-of-house roles, freeing up care workers to deliver hands on care support to residents.
Aran Handa, director at Cairn Group said: “We are in unprecedented times and our whole workforce is pulling together to help each other out. Our hospitality teams are made up of some incredibly talented people from chefs to housekeepers, so our care home residents will be getting the very best service experienced in our hotels. This means our brilliant carers can spend more time looking after our residents and give them something to smile about at this difficult time.”
Steve Massey, operations manager at Solehawk which operates some of the care homes, added: “The Covid-19 outbreak has put increased pressure on the UK care sector. Qualified carers are needed to foremost provide hands on care right now, and this support we have enlisted from our colleagues at the Group’s nearby hotels is fundamental in ensuring this can be delivered day to day.
“Cairn Group wants to protect as many of our hospitality workers as possible so it makes ultimate sense to bring these highly trained domestic and catering teams in to support our care homes at this time when it’s most needed.”
Infection control and safeguarding measures, plus enhanced staff training is being put in place across all teams, so this additional pool of resource sees the company well prepared in the event of a more widespread UK outbreak.
The Group is hoping to share its hotel buddy staff scheme with other care groups across the UK. It is able to offer out trained hotel staff to support other operators in the same way it is doing at its own care homes, and hopes this will also help to protect many hospitality jobs during the coming months.
Hotels supporting care homes in the North East include:
DoubleTree by Hilton Newcastle Airport – Kenton Manor Care Home, Newcastle
Cairn Hotel Newcastle & Carlton Hotel – Kenton Hall Care Home, Newcastle
Holiday Inn Newcastle-Jesmond – Craigielea Care Home, Gateshead
Royal Station Hotel – Ashton Court Care Home, Newcastle
Mercure Darlington Kings Hotel – Wilton Care Home, Darlington
Redworth Hall Hotel – Peterlee Care Home, Peterlee
Holiday Inn Scotch Corner & Redworth Hall Hotel – Astune Rise Care Home, Middlesbrough
