In 2021 I spent time at Allan Court care home following and interviewing care assistants and the wider staff team about their experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Conversations spanned the emotional trauma caused by the virus, physical and mental challenges of the job during this time, and the wider logistical issues that blighted efforts to keep themselves and residents safe. We talked about the media, government and public perceptions of Carers/Care both throughout Covid and beyond. Perhaps most importantly, we explored why they as individuals work in Care in the first place; what it takes to be a Carer, their relationships with residents, and celebrated their pride and mettle in doing a job seldom valued for the extraordinary skill and labour of love that it is.

While Covid was the vehicle, these interviews explore wider issues in social care, and force us to question the cost of taking our country’s carers for granted a second longer than we already have.