Today is Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection, where society is coming together to pay tribute to everyone working across social care and their dedication to helping people through the pandemic. 

It’s now been over two years since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As much as we are looking to the future, it’s also important to take time to remember and reflect on the extraordinary way our social care staff and colleagues across the sector continued supporting people during this most difficult time.

Hannah Barnett, Director of Adult Services at the National Autistic Society, wrote to all staff in our Adult Services this morning with her thoughts on the day. As part of this, Hannah said:

"To celebrate the hard work and sacrifices made by you and our fellow colleagues providing support across the country, we are commemorating the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection. "

"It’s also a time to remember those who are sadly no longer with us. An estimated 922 social care workers lost their lives during the pandemic and many of us lost friends and loved ones." 

"I will be reflecting on the stories of dedication, commitment you demonstrated to the people we support. I will remember our team members who left the safety of their homes to provide support to autistic adults suffering with coronavirus, staff who had to learn new and ever-changing infection prevention controls which made the delivery of support more difficult, and for the tremendous leadership shown in our services in taking care of each other, autistic people, and their families."