Cheshire West and Chester Council have called for residents to consider joining a 'reserve workforce' to help ease the pressure on the care system.

The council say that worsening issues such as lower recruitment rates and absence due to Covid means that vulnerable people may be left without sufficient care.

The workforce would be called on in emergencies to support people within their local areas, and the council encourage those, with or without care experience, to help out.

All members will receive a sign-up bonus, alongside a fully paid week's training, before undertaking any roles. Ongoing support will be available and, if and when called upon, members would be paid for their time.

Members will be able to choose how much time they work - either helping the council deliver care to those at risk of not being supported, by joining a bank of carers to supplement current care staff (auxiliary), or temporarily stepping in at short notice to provide short term cover in the event that a care provider can no longer deliver care (reserve).

Councillor Val Armstrong, cabinet member for adult social care and health, said that the pandemic had shown the strength of community in the region that the council hoped to utilise. Chester has recently been voted among the best cities in the UK for neighbourhood pride and had the largest proportion of community groups.

Mrs Armstrong said: "We want to harness that goodwill, that unity that we all felt so strongly, and use it to ensure nobody within our borough goes without the care they need in the event of an emergency situation."

To find out more please visit www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/arcworkforce.