Blog written by Mark Topps, Regional Support Manager, part of the Social Care Innovators Group
We are delighted to announce the introduction of the Green Heart for Social Care 💚 which is a joint initiative between The Caring View, The Institute for Health and Social Care Management and the Social Care Innovators Group.
We are jointly encouraging all social media users to add a green heart to their name as a mark of support to Care and Support Workers, people experiencing social care and those working within the industry.
The initiative started through conversations by the Social Care Innovators Group which is chaired by Jane Brightman, Social Care Manager, Institute of Health and Social Care Management (IHSCM) where members wanted a way of social care staff to be recognised across social media.
Jane Brightman said “I fully support this initiative, as do the Institute of Health and Social Care Management. We need to stand together, raise the profile and be able to identify our support for colleagues and people experiencing social care💚
Mark Topps, Regional Support Manager who forms part of the Social Care Innovators Group said, “I loved the idea and really wanted something to promote social care on social media. I couldn’t stop thinking about the idea” Mark quickly set about turning ideas into action. 💚
Mark also co-hosts “The Caring View” chat show which is a live streamed chat show all about social care on You Tube on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm alongside three other social care leaders, Adam Purnell, Donna Pierpoint and Dawn Bunter. The unscripted show hosts some of the biggest leaders and names within the industry to raise awareness and aims to encourage support and best practice.
Adam Purnell, Quality Lead for Kepplegate care also joins Mark and Jane as a member of the Social Care Innovators Group and said “Co-hosting The Caring View, working as a leader in the sector, and chairing the public image of social care subgroup for the social care innovators, has opened my eyes to the unfair lack of recognition those working in the sector receive. Our latest public survey conducted alongside the IHSCM showed that 86% of all respondents felt those working in social care did not receive the recognition they deserved. Throughout the pandemic, so much focus has been put on rewarding those working in health, for the NHS, but very little attention has been paid to our green comrades. The #GreenHeartForSocialCareMovement will hopefully help create a wider public awareness of the vastness of social care as well as the diverse nature of the sector” 💚
Their fellow Caring View co-host, Donna Pierpoint, Registered Care Manager when asked about the idea said “throughout the pandemic we’ve seen blue hearts for the NHS all over the country. We thought it was time to address the balance and highlight all the good work the social care sector has done this last year. We want to spread the green heart far and wide to show how much every single person is appreciated” 💚
Dawn Bunter, Registered Manager makes up the fourth part of The Caring View show and said “One person could make a difference, although everyone should try. The green heart represents unity in social care and the development, reform and standing it should hold for all. The green heart should create a relationship between equals, the equality of health and social” 💚
Vic Rayner, CEO of The National Care Forum said “NCF are delighted to support the #GreenHeartForSocialCare initiative. Care and Support workers are social care. They have worked tirelessly, not just during the past year but always, to ensure our family and friends receive the care they deserve. Social Care workers need to have more recognition for as we know care matters to millions of people across the world.” 💚
Let us turn our social media green. Social Care needs your support, more than ever. Please pop a #GreenHeartForSocialCare on your profile name and shout about it! 💚
Recommended posts for social media. You can copy and paste the below as a tweet
“I stand with #SocialCare, it’s staff, and those receiving care
If you do too, show your support by adding a #GreenHeartForSocialCare to your profile name to raise awareness and recognition for #SocialCare Let’s get this trending! 💚 @TheCaringView @IHM_tweets @NCFCareForum”
If you use social media please remember to tag @IHM_tweets and @TheCaringView and the @NCFCareForum
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