MP works at care home for a week to understand staff pressures

Conservative MP Duncan Baker (North Norfolk) stepped away from his day job at Westminster to spend a week working in a care home in order to talk with more authority about the care sector in the Houses of Parliament.

Duncan Baker spent four days in the first week of May working as a volunteer at Abbotswood Lodge care home near Norwich, to try to learn about what challenges the care sector has and understand the pressures facing care workers.

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The care home is registered to support up to 22 residents with autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities such as Down's syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Many residents were non-verbal and the MP’s tasks included helping get residents out of bed, entertaining them by playing cards and accompanying them on walks.

Mr Baker said he will write to Health Secretary Sajid Javid about care sector workers' pay and conditions and share his experience of working in care. Mr Baker said he wants to see that the health and social care levy "makes its way down to the care workers and improves their conditions and pay, and they get the rewards they deserve".

'One big family'

The politician admitted that he will ‘enormously miss’ residents and staff which he saw as ‘one big family’.

Sharing his experience at the home, Duncan Baker (@duncancbaker) said in a tweet: ‘Day 2 volunteering at the care home. Settling in new resident John who had his first day. Abbotswood gives such amazing care to a number of residents with Down’s Syndrome.

'So clear to see, this is just one whole family from staff through to residents.’

When his week at the care home was over, the MP tweeted: ‘The end of my first week of volunteering in a care home for people with learning disabilities. I have so much respect for the most amazing group of carers who show so much love for these guys.

'It is one big family and I will enormously miss these incredible people next week.’

click here for more details or to contact Abbottswood Lodge