13th Issue - Coronavirus Weekly Newsletter . Issue 13 - Published Monday 22nd June 2020 Lench's Trust Weekly Coronavirus Update Latest Update on the Pandemic Like many in the country we are all, residents and staff alike, becoming restive and impatient to know when we can return to a sense of normality with our daily lives. Over the coming weeks you will see some more relaxation to out lockdown at Lench Trust (such as the hairdressing salons reopening at William Lench Court & Lench's Close - dates to be confirmed - and possibly the gym at William Lench Court), but until then our message is to "Stay Alert": Stay at home if you can as this is still the safest place; Avoid contacts with people who are not from your household; Avoid gatherings indoors and limited to no more than 10 people outdoors; Keep the physical distancing of 2 metres (6ft) at all times; Meet with only one member of your family out doors 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 appendix; If you go & visit your family please stay in the garden and avoid indoor spaces, unless part of your "support bubble"; Refrain from using public transport - and if you do, remember that wearing a mask is now compulsory on all public transport; Only do essential shopping outside. As you can understand it is very difficult for the staff to keep maintaining a safe environment for all when, unfortunately, we are witnessing more and more infringements. Please refrain from: Gathering closely to each other, especially without masks; Visit each other's apartments; receive multiple visitors in your apartment. Please stay safe in your community & 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 do call around and check on the wellbeing of their staff residents; Maintenance Staff have been redeployed to distribute the shopping at Lench's Close & William Lench Court, collect rubbish 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 Mrs Pauline Jack at Lench's Close who will be celebrating her birthday this week. We understand how important the environment you live in is to your wellbeing and, whilst we have been focusing in recent months in supporting you to stay safely indoors, you will have noticed that Paul and his colleagues have returned to their usual tasks of looking after the grounds (often as well as continuing the shopping and deliveries for the residents who cannot go out). Lench's Close may not win the "Moseley in Bloom" Award this year (if this indeed goes ahead in these exceptional times), but you can be reassured that the team will make their utmost to return the 3 Schemes to a decent state for the rest of the summer - and much more for the spring/summer 2021. We will also ensure that the residents will have again access to essential support services such as chiropody, which can make such a difference to quality of life. If any residents have a specific request please contact your Scheme Manager who will look into it. Remember also to look after each other by checking how your friends or neighbours are, by meeting the gardens (physically distancing), by organising events with your Scheme Manager such as a quiz, a bingo or a coffee morning in the gardens (weather permitting, let us hope summer resumes soon!), or by reporting to your Scheme Manager or any other members of staff in you are concerned about the wellbeing of a fellow resident. Other Useful Contacts: www.thesilverline.org.uk - Free phone 0800 470 80 90 free confidential helpline www.mind.org.uk - Mental health support free from any line 116 123 www.ageuk.org.uk - Free phone 0800 678 1602 www.churchservices.tv - If you are religious and use the internet and are missing going to church. Be aware of scams Remember to keep alert as criminals are taking the opportunity to target vulnerable 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 All communal areas closed as we would not be able to maintain safe physical distancing; All activities cancelled until further notice; Resident laundries closed to avoid cross contamination - laundry done by staff when requested by residents; No outside visitors allowed in communal areas or in residents' apartments, including cleaners, deliveries, postmen, mobile hairdressers etc. Due to the nature of these jobs they would be visiting multiple places and there would be a risk of cross contamination; 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 latest) or by a member of staff. [Please note that this can be done only from Monday to Friday from now on]; Only approved key workers allowed in residents' apartments. An authorisation can be applied for and the key worker will be given a permit to enter; Only 1 outside visitor allowed om residents on the Trusts premises by prior arrangement - this is to avoid multiple visitors and household meeting and mixing involuntarily; 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); 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 Physical distancing of 2m (6ft) at all times; No gatherings indoors and limited to no more than 10 people outdoors; No mixing of household indoors, unless you create a "support bubble" (see below an explanation of a Support Bubble); Stay sheltered if you have an underlying condition putting you at a higher risk; 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 as if you all lived together. This means you can do things such as go round to their house, stay the night and travel together in private vehicles. But once you've formed your support bubble, you can not change who is in it. You also can't go into the homes of anyone outside your support bubble - unless it is 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 - wither an adult living alone or a single parent with children under the age of 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 bubble 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 your form your support bubble, think about any potential risks to you 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 13 - HERE