STAFF shortages in the care sector are affecting a Dawlish-based charity.

Assist Teignbridge’s chairman Robin Buchanan says the charity is facing difficulties being able to respond to demand due to the current national crisis in care staffing.

The charity’s annual general meeting heard that its paid for services are suffering from the national recruitment problems.

Chairman Robin Buchanan’s annual report said the finances of both the voluntary and the paid for sectors of the charity had suffered since the Covid pandemic.

In terms of the charged services, which include care work, he said: ‘The loss we have experienced to a great extent reflects our difficulty being able to respond to demand for services by care staff shortages.

There is a waiting list of clients requiring support.

‘In the present economic climate however, recruitment has been problematic and is likely to remain so for some time.

‘Despite these difficulties, I am delighted to say that our staff have been able to respond with both fortitude and good humour.’

The charity has two arms, one part the voluntary sector and the second providing charged for services. Mr Buchanan’s report said the current cost of living crisis has led to the volunteers dealing with a ‘considerable increase’ in work.

Over the last year, there have been 4,500 recorded hours of volunteering; 3,400 hours of support provided by trained sitting staff; 5,000 hours of practical help and more than 1,100 nail treatments provided by qualified nail technicians.

The Volunteer Centre has had to adapt to reduced levels of funding following the pandemic along with ‘extreme’ problems sourcing grand aid. But the charity says the issues have been partly offset thanks to continued grant support from Devon County Council and Dawlish Town Council.

It has also received a cost of living grant from Teignbridge CVS specifically to support its outreach benefits work. Mr Buchanan’s report states the overall financial situation remains sound with reserves more than covering outgoing costs.

While the volunteer side of the charity is in deficit, it is hoped that more opportunities for fund raising will open up to ‘build on the high profile and good name’ the charity enjoys in the community.

The easing of Covid restrictions has meant an increase in volunteers of 10 per cent.

But the paid for services have seen a decline of almost half. Assist Caring day hours and nights totalled 3,488 hours, a fall of 45 per cent on the previous year, and the Home Help service has declined by nine per cent. In the last year, two long-standing clients died who used between them 30 day hours and three nights each week.

Their loss has meant new clients have been offered support. However, several long standing members of care staff have left due to retirement, changing careers and personal circumstances.

Mr Buchanan’s report went on: ‘We will face new challenges and, no doubt, a busy workload in the year ahead.

‘I am sure that, as in the past, we will be able to demonstrate flexibility in the way these challenges are tackled and that we will continue to do so with good humour, enthusiasm and commitment.

‘Despite the challenges the charity has faced, there have been considerable achievements.'