ADASS calls for emergency measures to help care and support services during fuel crisis
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services Emergency (ADASS) is calling for emergency measures to be put in place to ensure that social care staff get fuel for their cars so that they can continue to provide vital support to disabled and older people.
Referring to UK media reports of care staff struggling to find fuel or having to spend hours queuing to fill up when they should be supporting people in the community or in care settings, ADASS called for measures to guarantee access to fuel for care staff.
It suggested designated protected slots at filling stations could be one way forward and it is asking other drivers to think twice about topping up their tanks and limit car use while current shortages persist.
Stephen Chandler, President at ADASS commented: “Care staff must be able to do their jobs.
“They provide essential support to people to eat and drink, wash, go to bed and get up and out to work and other activities – and to take medication and relieve pain.
“The government must do all it can to guarantee adequate fuel supplies at filling stations, but the problems being experienced by care staff show that special steps are needed to help them.
“The public also has a responsibility not to make their difficulties any worse.”
In a recent report, ADASS warned of an impending crisis in the retention of social care staff and called for the recognition of the role played by staff in adult social care.
