CARERS at council-run care homes went above and beyond the call of duty during the recent spell of wintry weather.

A number of staff who were on duty on January 11 at New Swinford Hall in Stourbridge, Tiled House in Pensnett, and Shenstone in Halesowen stayed overnight to ensure care could be provided the following morning.

Normally workers go home at the end of each shift but due to the severe weather several staff stayed overnight.

Many others walked considerable distances to ensure they arrived at work on time and some working in residential homes, volunteered to change shifts to help colleagues who experienced difficulties to ensure that homes continued to run smoothly.

Councillor Lesley Faulkner, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: “Many people may not realise the lengths our staff will go to ensure we provide the best care possible for our most vulnerable people. It’s wonderful to see staff go that extra mile in what were very difficult circumstances.”

Home care services to vulnerable residents who remain in their own homes also continued to run as normal despite the severe snow and ice.

Councillor Faulkner added: “Leaving cars on main roads and walking to people’s homes means it may have taken our home care assistants a little longer than normal to reach people’s homes but it was all in a days work for them to ensure they continued to meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents.”