Carers say there's been a lack of communication during lockdown in Sheffield

A number of charities and voluntary organisations have reported concerns to Sheffield Council.

Disability Sheffield says in a report: "As care homes have locked down it has been increasingly difficult to communicate with them.

"This has ranged from lack of appropriate technology available through to lack of staff time to assist residents with using the phone or technology and the inability to access residents' notes.

"We understand the pressure that care homes have been under but the inability to contact residents have left many isolated.

"This has also left advocates being unable to advocate for their clients and residents being able to contribute and have their voice heard in situations that affect their lives."

Healthwatch Sheffield, the consumer watchdog for health and social care services in the city, said it had heard positive stories about some care homes using video calls, loud speaker phone calls and visits through windows and in gardens.

But it added: "Some care homes report not having the capacity for these initiatives - there is a need for support so that all homes can provide these opportunities. In some instances advocates reported some care homes are difficult to contact."

Sara Storey, of Sheffield Council, said the council had contacted as many vulnerable people as possible to check on them.

She said: "The council called around 1,000 carers from a list from Sheffield Carers Centre, made calls to every person who employs a personal assistant and called hundreds, if not thousands, of social care users.

"The challenge is bringing that information together to form intelligence and what we need to do. We have been in contact with a lot of organisations as well as individuals to find out what people need."

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