Case Studies

A care home entertainer contacted Care Campaign for the Vulnerable telling us he was told by a care home manager his bookings to entertain residents would be cancelled after he wrote a comment on facebook supporting his friend who works as a carer at the home. At a time when care homes are doing their best to keep residents entertained during visiting restrictions - he says a ''supportive'' comment helping to cheer up his friend has resulted in him losing a job he loves. ''I am really upset that residents will miss out as I appear to have been made an example of over a personal Facebook message in response to a friend’s comment. The friend is an employee of the home, she was expressing upset at not being able to see her children because of lockdown rules. I simply replied to her saying ‘Sod Boris – if you want to see your kids, then go see them. Lockdowns won't help anyway, the virus isn't going anywhere and will still be here when we come back." I regretted it but it was an attempt to try and cheer her up. When she pointed out that she couldn’t as she would lose her job, I agreed, apologised, and removed the original post.

In the message I made NO mention of the care home or the provider. I was merely expressing my upset at the current situation we all find ourselves in and reacted in support of a friend who was very sad. I actually didn’t expect to be taken literally – of course we need to do everything we can to save lives, and I would never seriously encourage someone to break the law. But this morning, the home manager, ordered all of by bookings to be cancelled.

I have called the manager and pleaded with her to reconsider, and now she won’t speak to me at all. I appreciate she needs to put the right message out to staff, but what about the residents? After all they are the ones we all actually work for. Why couldn't they give me a warning? That I would have accepted and it would have been fair.''

''Has the home considered asking residents or their families for input regarding what happened?''

I have been entertaining the residents at this home regularly over the past few few years, and I have always acted professionally and have always given my best. There was even one time I performed for free as there was no money in the budget to pay me. And now with my Arts Council Funding I have been providing much needed online entertainment for just £10. My grant allowed me to do this between October and April, and I am applying for a second grant to continue providing affordable high quality entertainment for a further twelve months, not only online but onsite when conditions allow.

Please don’t think for one second that I am aggrieved because of loss of income, my work is subsidised, so I am very fortunate to be able to continue. I feel aggrieved for the elderly residents, who are now being denied their online live Christmas & New Year entertainment at a time when they really need and clearly will benefit from it. I have worked hard to develop the best quality covid safe online entertainment for care home residents across the country. This isn’t just a job for me, I want to make as many people happy as I possibly can, but alas Management have seen fit to prevent me from doing this for people in their care, people who have had limited visiting entertainment during these cold months, coupled with limited contact with loved ones.

I am privileged and honoured to be doing what I do. It’s not about money, never has been, it’s about spreading joy and happiness. I love doing my bit to enrich lives, I feel blessed. I work very hard to provide the best experience for my audience. Today’s events have hurt me, I feel so sad that I can no longer bring joy to, or maybe never see again, these lovely residents. This could have been resolved so easily and I did try, but I have now been completely shut out. I’m heartbroken.

So I wonder, in cancelling my bookings, who do they think they are really punishing?''

Care Campaign for the Vulnerable advises never to break lock down rules/restrictions imposed. This is the account from the care home entertainer. If you are interested in this case study please contact ccftv.cares@gmail.com