12th Issue - Coronavirus Weekly Newsletter

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Issue 12 Published Monday 15th June 2020

Lench's Trust Weekly Coronavirus Update

Latest Update on the Pandemic

Today, Monday 15th June, is another milestone with the reopening of shops and markets, most schools (but not all years), and other venues. We know that many of you will be sensible enough not to rush to the shops, but we must also resist the sense of a return to "normality". Our strong advice remains to:

"Stay Alert - Which means stay at home if you can as this is still the safest place"

Over the past few weeks there has rarely been a day without some sort of announcements from the government further relaxing the rules of the lockdown or setting up a review on precautionary measures such as the wearing of a mask (now obligatory whilst on public transport but not in shops) or the physical distancing (1m, 1.5m or 2m). Understandably this has lead to much confusion and interpretation, which is why we have appended to this edition of the newsletter a summary of the measures in place throughout Lench's Trust. In broad terms those are:

  • Avoid contacts with people who are not from your household (see detail in appendix)
  • Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people;
  • Keep the physical distancing of 2 metres (6ft) at all time;
  • Meet with only one member of your family outdoors on Lench's Trust premises;
  • If you are single and wish to create a "support bubble" with a member of your family, please see further details in the appendix;
  • If you go and visit your family please stay in the garden and avoid indoor spaces (unless part of your support bubble);
  • Do not share a car with a family member or a friend not from your household;
  • Refrain from using public transport - and if you do, remember that wearing a mask is not compulsory on all public transport;
  • Only do essential shopping outside.

Please stay safe in your community and help us protect YOU!

Lench's Trust Staffing Arrangements

  • All communal areas remain closed, including the laundries, until further notice;
  • Staff attend the sites only minimum hours to reduce exposure and to protect both staff and residents:
    • Scheme Managers on site only to do call around and check on the wellbeing of their residents;
    • Maintenance Staff have been redeployed to distribute the shopping at Lench's Close & William Lench Court, collect rubbish and distribute the post. They are starting to look after the grounds now that the residents are out and about;
    • Maintenance staff and trusted contractors on standby for essential maintenance work;
    • Head Office staff working both at home or in the office;
    • Staff wearing PPE at all times

Our best wishes to Eric Spears at Tanner's Close who will be celebrating his birthday this week, and staff members Lauren Pennycuick (carer) and Jayne McGettrick (Scheme Manager) who will both reach a milestone this week.

Remember to look after each other:

  • Check how your friends or neighbours are by calling them;
  • Arrange to meet in the gardens (socially distancing) for a catch up or a good, healthy gossip;
  • If you have FaceTime or Skype, organise a quiz or a bingo (ask for your Scheme Manager's or Heather's help);
  • Organise a bake off and /or coffee morning - possible as a fundraiser for a chosen charity;
  • Report to your Scheme Manager or a carer if you are concerned about the wellbeing of a fellow resident.

Other Useful Contacts

Beware of Scams

Remember to keep alert as criminals are taking the opportunity to target normal people with scam letters (including from DWP) or emails.

  • Do not respond to/nor open your door to strangers;
  • When in doubt ask your Scheme Manager for advice.

Coronavirus Measures

Lench's Trust Specific Measures

  1. All communal areas closed as we would not be able to maintain safe physical distancing;
  2. All activities cancelled until further notice;
  3. Resident laundries closed to avoid cross contamination - laundry done by staff when requested by residents;
  4. No outside visitors allowed in communal areas or in residents' apartments;
  5. When residents are unable to do their own shopping, this is done either by families or friends (and delivered to the Schemes by 11.30 at the latest) or by a member of staff. [Please note that as from Monday 22nd June this will be limited to Monday to Friday];
  6. Only approved key workers allowed in residents' apartments. An authorisation can be applied for and that key worker will be given a permit to enter;
  7. Only 1 outside visitor allowed to meet with the residents on the Trust's premises - this is to avoid multiple visitors and households meeting and mixing involuntarily;
  8. All staff wearing the level of PPE appropriate to their job, with the wearing of a mask as a minimum. Residents are asked to respect the staff's protective space and not to approach without a mask and no closer than 2 metres (6ft);
  9. Staff working reduced hours on site to minimise exposure to risk: Scheme Managers on site only in the mornings ( out of hours calls apply afterwards), Maintenance Team on call when not on duty for specific tasks and Head Office team working on a rota basis.

Government's Guidelines 

  1. Physical distancing of 2m (6ft) at all times;
  2. No gatherings of more than 10 people
  3. No mixing of household indoors, unless you create a "support bubble" (see below for an explanation of a support bubble)
  4. Stay sheltered if you have an underlining condition putting you at higher risk;
  5. Self-Isolate if you have the symptoms for coronavirus (and do inform us).

What exactly is a support bubble?

Forming this support bubble means you effectively become one household - you can act is if you all lived together. This means you can do things such as go to their homes, stay the night and travel together in private vehicles.

But once you've formed your support bubble, you can't change who's in it. You also can't go into the homes of anyone outside your support bubble - unless it's in line with the wider guidance, which includes accessing a garden or other outdoor space.

Who can I form a support bubble with?

For two households to form a support bubble, at least one of the households must be a single adult household - either an adult living alone or a single parent with children under 18 living with them. The other household can be any size.

But there are some things to consider before you decide to form a support bubble:

  • You can travel to and from another household in your support bubble, but it is still best to avoid public transport. It might therefore be easier to be in a support with a household local to you.
  • The more people you spend time with, the higher the risk of infection from coronavirus. So while there are no rules on the size of the household you can join up with, it is safer to make a support bubble with a smaller group of people.
  • Before you form your support bubble, think about any potential risks to your health. For example, is there anyone in certain households that's more exposed to the virus, such as healthcare workers?

Remember - if one person within the support bubble develops the symptoms for coronavirus ALL MUST SELF ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS.

Download Issue 12 - HERE