CEO Of Maritime Care Home Commends Staff For COVID-19 Efforts
The CEO of maritime charity The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society has this week commended the hardworking staff at its Surrey-based care home in an open letter to its workforce during the coronavirus crisis.
Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt O.B.E. issued a letter to Belvedere House’s 100 staff members recognising their hard work, dedication, and many sacrifices made over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far whilst delivering care to the residents of the home.
As a registered charity first established in 1865, the award-winning Society delivers expert care to former seafarers and their dependants including those living with dementia, at its Home in Banstead.
Like many care homes across the UK, the Society’s nursing care home Belvedere House was affected by the virus, but – after announcing the Home had been virus-free for three weeks – it is now able to cautiously move into the next stage of recovery and the CEO wanted to reflect on the last few months.
Addressing The Royal Alfred workforce, CEO Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt said: “From the outset it was clear that with discipline and caring, keeping to government guidelines and working as a team, we had a fair chance of surviving this particular ‘stormy weather’. This we did, and YOU did, and I most sincerely thank you. It is fully realised that to continue your duties here “on the front line” most of you often had harder to work and were constantly putting yourself at risk to keep the residents safe.
“Thank you most sincerely for all the hard work, commitment, compassion and dedication to those who are most important here – the residents and tenants. Together we can look back with pride on a hugely commendable achievement so far in getting all of the staff and most of our residents safely through exceptionally dangerous circumstances.” He ended “Please stay vigilant to prevent us having to go through it again.”
From July, the Society is planning to open its doors to allow socially distanced visits in line with government guidelines, so friends and family members of tenants and residents can finally see their loved ones after months of separation. The charity is also planning to invest in the Home and its grounds over the summer to ensure residents and tenants can continue to enjoy the facilities on offer.
Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt, Chief Executive of the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society.