Inspirational manager reveals Leeds care home has had zero Covid cases

Jodie Boucher said Carr Croft care home in Meanwood had avoided the virus through a strict testing system and risk assessments.

Staff at the home built a heated pagoda in the garden so residents could still see family safely, due to a lower risk of transmission outdoors.

The success story comes amid reports that Covid cases in UK care homes had doubled in a fortnight.

Mrs Boucher contacted the Yorkshire Evening Post after recent reports which "painted care homes in a negative light".

She said: “It did not show the pressure we are under, or the positivity in how we have successfully continued delivering a safe service and are still fulfilling residents’ lives.

"The documentary was portraying care homes to not care, and that we didn’t want visitors.

"That’s not the case at all.”

As well as building the pagoda for outdoor visits, Carr Croft set up a penpal scheme for residents to receive letters.

Children from the local primary school who visited before the pandemic also sent cards and drawings.

The residents have even been taught how to use Skype for when face-to-face visits aren’t possible.

Staff at the home are tested three times a week, and all residents have now had their first dose of the Covid vaccine, which Mrs Boucher said they were “so excited” about.

Carr Croft will continue with their current safety practices nonetheless, Mrs Boucher added.

She said the pandemic hadn’t affected residents’ psychological wellbeing, but it was overwhelming for staff:

Mrs Boucher added: “We’ve just continued to battle on and give our residents the quality of life they’ve always had, so nothing changes for them.

“I love my job. My whole purpose has been to keep these residents safe and everybody here is so committed and loyal to their jobs.

"At Christmas, we didn’t see our children, so we didn’t risk catching coronavirus and giving it to the residents.

"All of that has been missed and it’s just been negative.”

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