Led by CEO, Martin Jones, Home Instead’s Covid Taskforce was formed in early March to share Government and sector information and advice relating to the pandemic with the network.
As the pandemic progressed, in order to provide reassurance to franchisees and their teams as well as to their clients, the Taskforce prepared guiding FAQs to help offices understand how to deal with Covid on a practical level, ensuring that Home Instead acted with one voice as a brand. These were updated daily as advice relating to matters, such as PPE, was revised.
Owners had support in dealing with media enquiries and additional marketing campaigns (including television advertising and PR) were put in place. Offices also received support from the Taskforce with regards to PPE procurement.
Home Instead’s extensive employee wellbeing programme, which promotes emotional and physical wellbeing, was enhanced with practical advice and guidance on issues such as handling finances and home schooling added. Podcasts were commissioned from leading motivational speakers covering topics such as ‘Lockdown doesn’t mean meltdown’ and ‘Happy Families’.
Recognising the importance of leaders at a time of crisis, investment was made in external group coaching sessions and webinars for owners and office teams around resilience.
The team also worked closely with banking partners to ensure franchisees had access to advice and delivered a series of webinars relating to Government business support. To keep spirits up, a number of celebrities, including Esther Rantzen, actress Sarah Hadland and Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice recorded messages of support for the care teams. In addition, the Taskforce shared motivational messages from the 60-strong team at National Office and video messages of thanks from Martin Jones.