Posted: Friday 22nd December 2017
While many are tucking into their turkeys, there are lots of people still at work providing essential services for Hertfordshire residents.
Hertfordshire County Council workers are among the thousands of people in the county working across the festive season to make sure residents are kept safe and are able to access the services they need.
From firefighters and gritter drivers to social workers and community care officers, Hertfordshire County Council staff will be working over Christmas to help others.
Colin McNamara, who has been working in social care for over 20 years, is one such person who will spend his Christmas helping other people enjoy theirs.
Colin is a Senior Support Worker at Hixberry Lane Supported Living Service for adults with a learning disability in St Albans, and is responsible for leading the shift, making sure everything is okay, checking that service users are doing the correct thing and dealing with emergencies.
But Colin, who will be working from 7.30am – 3.30pm on Christmas Day, is happy to be working over the holiday period. He said:
“I am happy to be here as we enable people that need support to have a nice Christmas”.
“We’re a residential service, so we provide services 365 days a year. But it’s extra important for us to be here for our service-users on Christmas Day.”
Also working over the festive season is Hertfordshire County Council Driver Attendant Tony Kundi, who will provide transport to Quantum Care’s Anson Court Day Service for older people on Boxing Day.
He said: “Our services are important because the elderly can become quite lonely at Christmas and may not leave their home, so we take them out for the day and allow them to be with someone and get out of the house for a while.”
Hertfordshire firefighter Mark Andrews will also be working over the Christmas period. To see his video story, visit https://youtu.be/c3hpjxGofrw.
David Williams, Leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “We are immensely grateful to all our workers and the other residents of Hertfordshire who are prepared to sacrifice their family time to help others in the county.
“I would like to wish all our residents a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.”