Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection launched

A Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection is to be held to honour the work of the adult social care workforce during the pandemic, and those who lost their lives.

A total of 21 organisations including Skills for Care, National Care Forum (NCF), ADASS and Care England supported by the Department of Health and Social Care and Minister of State for Social Care Helen Whately, have come together to launch the Memorial Day dedicated to the adult social care workforce in England, which will be held in March 2022.

An estimated 922 social care workers in England died between March 2020 and May 2021.

Minister for Care, Helen Whately, said: “The whole country recognises the bravery of the social care workforce, NHS staff and many others who put themselves at risk to save lives during this global pandemic. Our hearts go out to the families, friends and colleagues who have sadly lost loved ones and we will take this time to honour and remember them.

“We have worked to protect health and social care staff throughout the pandemic and we will continue to support them and their families in any way we can.”

The purpose of Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection is to thank those social care workers who provided crucial care and support during these tough times and to remember those workers who sadly lost their lives to COVID-19.

People are being encouraged to share tributes to care workers lost during the pandemic and say thank you to those who provided vital support on A Memorial Wall and Thank You Wall, launched on The Care Workers’ Charity website where people can share tributes.

Other ways in which care providers, care workers, those who draw on care and support, and any other individual can participate on the day include planting a tree in honour of a lost care worker, having a minute’s silence, or creating a piece of art.

People can also keep involved with the day on social media using #RememberSocialCare.

Further information on events taking place on the day and how to get involved can be found on The Care Workers’ Charity website http://www.thecareworkerscharity.org.uk/covid-19-tribute/