Posted on: 6 August 2020
Amanda Black, a Senior Nurse with the Twilight District Nursing Service in Milton Keynes talks reasonable adjustments, and how compassionate management provided alternative work arrangements that allowed her to keep working and looking after her children with complex needs, during COVID-19.
When COVID-19 happened, Amanda Black became extremely worried.
As a working carer, she juggled her nursing role looking after vulnerable adults in the community within the District Nursing Service, with caring for her three children – two of whom have special needs, and one requiring shielding.
There was no way she could do both.
“I was very worried, scared and very apprehensive about the sort of reaction I would receive. All of a sudden I realised I couldn’t do the role I was employed to do because I couldn’t actually work. Our whole world came crashing down. It was made ten times worse that my partner (also a nurse) had to work at the hospital, and had to move out because of the risk to our daughter,” says Amanda.
12 year old Olivia has profound learning disabilities. She is fed through a gastrostomy, and experiences debilitating seizures everyday, which put her at risk of serious head injuries. As a result, she requires round the clock care. But her paediatric nursing support at night had to be stopped during the pandemic, due to her the increased risk of her getting the virus.
Olivia’s medical team warned Amanda that if Olivia contracted the virus, she probably wouldn’t survive.
So Amanda had to stop working initially, to look after Olivia and her two other children – a four year old daughter with autism, and 13 year old son.
The situation took a toll on Amanda.
“I felt a lot of guilt because I wasn’t there with my team in this pandemic, but although you’ve got no choice but it feels like you are abandoning them,” she said.
Amanda emailed her managers and explained her predicament. Soon after, she received what she describes as a “supportive and compassionate” reply.
‘It was good for my mental health’
Her managers found an alternative working arrangement that would allow Amanda to work and still care for her family.
She was temporarily posted to the Integrated Community Support Team extended hub (ICST)– a team of staff from all disciplines looking after the welfare of vulnerable patients. Amanda could work from home, while doing welfare checks, and making sure shielded patients had everything they needed like medication and food. She would assess their needs, coordinate their care, and refer them for various services as needed.
Amanda says, “It was brilliant to be honest. I have learnt so much from the wide variety of professionals within their multi discipline team. Using remote technology I could continue supporting patients in some way, all whilst not leaving the house.”
Work provided the training and equipment Amanda needed to be able to do the job from home, including headphones, a work phone, laptop raiser and chair.
“My managers and the extended Integrated support team hub couldn’t have done any more to support me. They made me feel valued and I continued to triage, signpost and support community patients. I developed my assessment skills and awareness of all the different types of services, which I can take back to district nursing.
“The ICST have been so supportive, and excellent at showing me the ropes. I had to learn new ways of working from home which included We have Microsoft Team Meetings, where we meet twice a day to discuss patient pathways and share ideas,” says Amanda.
Amanda says she would encourage working carers to speak up if they need support.
“Although it wasn’t easy going into the details of my personal situation with my managers, I am pleased I did. They found me a solution that has been nothing but positive, and it took a weight of my shoulders knowing that they understood my situation.
“I’m extremely grateful to my managers, the ICST team and CNWL for the opportunity they’ve given me. It’s also been good to have some mental relief, and to keep working as a nurse but also importantly as a carer for my children. I couldn’t leave my home for months on end, so it became very important for me mentally to stay connected with people, and to continue to work. Having the balance between the two in such unprecedented times has helped my mental health immensely and I couldn’t have hoped for better support from my line managers and CNWL."