Merseyside company launches trailblazing platform allowing care workers to set their own pay and keep 100% of their earnings

A new trailblazing online platform launched by a Merseyside company is set to revolutionise the social care sector by empowering self-employed care workers to set their own pay and choose their own shifts.

Click Shifts, part of the newly launched Flourish brand from The Progress Group, is a pioneering UK platform that allows care workers to take control of their schedules and earnings without any hidden costs.

The platform connects care clients to local, experienced, and vetted carers who can cover shifts at short notice, reducing the need to rely on agencies and avoiding additional fees.

While similar services exist, Click Shifts is unique in that it does not take a cut from what the carer is paid by the client ensuring care workers receive the full amount for the hours they work.

Carers can set their availability, ranging from a minimum of 3hours to a maximum of 12 hours daily. Additionally, both carers and care clients can rate each other, ensuring transparency and accountability on both sides.

Chief Executive of The Progress Group, Jayne Worthington, highlighted the significance of this. She said:- "The launch of Click Shifts comes at a critical time. With 44 per cent of the UK's 5 million unpaid working-age carers living in poverty and 152,000 care worker vacancies in England, there is an urgent need for change. Flourish addresses this by offering Click Shifts; a platform that allows self-employed carers to work on their terms, earning what they need by setting their own pay rates, availability, and preferred locations. Unlike other platforms, we ensure that carers receive 100 per cent of their pre-tax earnings with no commission deducted, empowering them to truly take control of their work and financial stability. We are proud to launch this initiative in Merseyside, and we plan to roll it out to other areas across the UK in the coming months, helping even more carers and care providers benefit from this innovative approach."

To register with Click Shifts care workers need to have a cleared DBS check, hold up to date training certificates, and provide 2 references. This ensures that only qualified and reliable professionals are part of the network, maintaining high standards of care.

The launch of Click Shifts has been supported by sector leaders including:- social care workforce expert and author of Saving Social Care, Neil Eastwood who attended a launch event held yesterday (Monday, September 23) at The Brunch Club, Duke Street, in Liverpool.

Neil said:- "It is really good to see products like Click Shifts, which are going to give care workers more empowerment and more autonomy. We really need to change things in the care sector to focus more on the care worker and the offer to them, and Click Shifts is a really great example of that."

Giving care workers the power to outline their salary expectations is just 1 of the ways the newly launched Flourish brand aims to address the systemic issues within the social care industry.

Flourish brings together more than 15 years of expertise from 3established companies, which are now part of The Progress Group: MyWorkMode, Grey Matter Learning, and AC Education.

MyWorkMode had previously trialled connecting healthcare workers with providers needing shift cover, and Grey Matter Learning and AC Education have delivered high quality training tailored to the adult's and children's social care, and education sectors.

In addition to Click Shifts, 3other digital hubs have launched today under the Flourish brand: Click Learning, Click Academy, and Click Community. These enable care workers and educators to advance in their careers by accessing high-quality training whilst championing a connected community of professionals across multiple sectors.

Flourish's vision is to raise standards and the quality of care across adult and children's social care and education markets.

Jayne Worthington added:- "Flourish aims to make a lasting impact on adult's and children's social care, and education sectors by providing real solutions to real problems. This is about improving work-life balance, raising standards of care, and supporting professional growth. We want to empower employees but also help employers develop and retain skilled professionals in these sectors. These are solutions that have been built by the sector, for the sector, and support people working in the sector to deliver the best possible care."

To find out more information, about the newly launched Flourish brand, please visit:- Flourish.Co.UK.

Concern over fall in flu vaccine uptake figures in North West Region

WHILE uptake in older people last year remained relatively high at:- 72% it is still below the figure for the 2022/2023 season (79.1%). Uptake for people in the North West with long term health conditions (40%) vaccinated last season has also dropped compared to the previous year (47%).

Health official as particularly concerned about the drop in pregnant women in the Region being vaccinated (29.4% compared to 32.5% the previous year).

To help reduce the impact of winter viruses on those most at risk, as well as ease NHS winter pressures, the UKHSA; with Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England; is set to launch a scaled-up Get Winter Strong campaign on the:- 7 October 2024.

The campaign will urge those eligible to get their flu and Covid19 vaccination when invited, ahead of winter, targeting those at greatest risk and for the 1st time will encourage pregnant women to also get their RSV and whooping cough vaccination.

Last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people nationally having to be hospitalised, due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.

Evidence shows the significant impact from last year's flu vaccine with a 30% reduction in the number of those aged:- 65 and over being hospitalised and a 74% reduction in those between:- 2 and 17 years of age.

Pregnant women and older people aged:- 75 to 79 are also eligible for a RSV vaccination for the 1st time this year, with the maternal vaccine providing strong protection for newborns in their 1st few months, when they are most at risk of severe illness from RSV.

Dr Merav Kliner, Regional Deputy Director, UKHSA North West, said:- "As winter approaches we are likely to see many viruses circulating, which can cause severe and even life-threatening illness for those most at risk. And with people socialising more indoors these viruses spread much more easily. Getting vaccinated ahead of winter is by far your best defence. If you're pregnant or have certain long-term health conditions you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Older people and young infants with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised. So if you or your child are offered the flu, Covid19 or RSV vaccines, don't delay in getting them. Please speak to your nurse or doctor if you have any concerns. If you think you have flu , stay home and rest until you feel better. Call NHS 111 if you have an underlying health condition or feel really unwell. Aside from having your flu vaccine, the best way to prevent the spread of flu is to practice good hand hygiene. Catch coughs and sneezes in a tissue, throw the tissue away and wash your hands."

Maryam Sheiakh, a Mother from Manchester, recounts the fear and anxiety she went through 2 years ago, when her then 4 year old daughter, Saffy, spent more than a week at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital after being admitted with flu, suffering with a severe cough and high temperature. She was transferred to a High Dependency Unit as she was struggling to breathe and needed oxygen.

Maryam said:- "I was seriously concerned we might lose Saffy. I honestly thought she might die from this. I was so distraught watching her struggling to breathe day after day, worried about her breathing difficulties and getting oxygen to the brain; would she be the same little girl before she got ill?"

Thanks to the NHS staff, Saffy made a full recovery and now aged:- 6 is thriving. Maryam, a nursery teacher, is now urging all parents to vaccinate their children to ensure they have the best protection against flu:- "Just go and get it, don't take the risk. No parent wants to watch their child suffer like we did with Saffy."

As of last week, millions of eligible people in England can now book their flu and Covid19 vaccines through the NHS, with appointments starting from 3 October. For their RSV jab, pregnant women and older adults should speak to their maternity service or GP practice to arrange, as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.

Tricia Spedding, Head of Public Health for NHS England North West, said:- "Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from developing serious illness and ending up in hospital this winter. We're making it easier than ever for people to get protected, with a record number of sites offering both flu and Covid vaccines in the North West and the ability for those eligible to have both vaccines in the same appointment. It takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119, so please make sure you come forward to get vaccinated and encourage loved ones who are eligible to do the same."

Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Andrew Gwynne said:- "I encourage everyone who is eligible to get their flu, Covid19 and RSV vaccinations as soon as possible. They are without doubt the best way to protect yourself from these viruses that can cause serious harm."

Every year the World Health Organization recommends which strains should be included in the flu vaccine, with the UKHSA contributing to this work. Vaccines are then developed to help fight off the types of flu viruses expected to be circulating in the coming season. As the viruses can change every year, and protection from the vaccine reduces over time, it is important those eligible get a vaccine every year.

The 'Get Winter Strong' campaign will run for 10 weeks and will appear on broadcast TV, on demand and community TV, as well as radio channels, outdoor poster sites across England and on social media channels.