Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Last Reviewed: Wednesday 20 May 2020

Key points:

• Our Care Homes are closed to all visitors. They remain open to admissions where possible.
• Our Extra Care Housing sites are closed to all visitors and restaurants and communal areas are also closed until further notice.
• Housing tenants are asked not to receive visitors unless they are delivering an essential service.
• We continue to provide care at home to our Community clients and will communicate any changes directly to clients.
• It may be necessary to make changes to our services, possibly at short notice, to help keep people safe.
• This page will be regularly updated.

For the latest Government advice, please visit:

• www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

Updated Government Guidance

Following the Prime Minister’s address to the country on 10 May, setting out a roadmap for the easing of lockdown restrictions, the Government has released new guidance covering a range of sectors.

We are reviewing this guidance to determine what, if any, impact it has on our existing approach.

Our guidance, particularly around visiting family or loved ones at any of our Care Homes, Extra Care Housing sites or Sheltered Housing schemes has not changed – to protect residents, we remain closed to all visitors.

Introduction

The safety and wellbeing of our customers and employees is our highest priority.

We want to reassure everyone we provide housing, care and support for that we are doing everything we can to help keep people safe.

Whilst we have contingency plans in place to ensure we can continue to provide care and support to those who need it, this is an evolving situation which may mean doing things differently or making changes at short notice.

Any decisions we make will be based on the latest Public Health and Government advice, which is updated daily.

This page will be regularly updated with new information.

Care Homes

All of our Care Homes, and our two Reablement Centres, are closed to all visitors until further notice. We remain open to admissions, where possible, as social care plays a vital role in freeing up much needed NHS beds.

We understand how important visiting is, both for families and for the wellbeing of residents, so we have given this decision careful consideration. However, we feel this is the right decision and will help us keep people safe.

If you have any concerns about your loved one, please contact your relevant Care Home Manager.

We will do our best to facilitate other ways to keep in touch, such as via telephone calls and video. We ask that, wherever possible, requests for calls are made between 9am and 5pm when we will have greater capacity to provide the necessary support.

Extra Care Housing and Woodland Court retirement village

Our Extra Care Housing sites and Woodland Court retirement village are closed to all visitors. Those residents who have been advised by the Government to self-isolate are encouraged to comply fully with this advice and not leave the site.

In addition to this, and following Government advice on the closure of cafes, bars and restaurants, we have closed restaurants and communal areas at these sites. Instead, food can be ordered and delivered directly to residents’ apartments.

Community Services

Visits to our community clients continue. It may be necessary to make temporary changes to visits so we can ensure the needs of our most vulnerable clients are taken care of first.

We will keep clients fully informed.

Those aged over 70, and those with underlying health issues, should stay at home and avoid non-essential contact with others.

Housing

We ask our Housing tenants not to receive visitors unless they are delivering an essential service. All communal areas are closed.

Your home is secure

No-one will lose their home as a result of Coronavirus.

If you are a Brunelcare housing tenant, and you are worried about paying your rent or other bills because of Coronavirus or the need to self-isolate, please rest assured that your home is secure.

We would encourage anyone with concerns about money to contact a member of our team to discuss them.

Repairs

Repairs and contractor visits will be limited to emergency and health and safety issues only. This includes:

Brunelcare’s controlled distance process

Letter to social housing residents

Testing

The Government has announced changes to who can be tested for Coronavirus.

At Brunelcare, we are working with Public Health England to expand testing to all of our Care Home residents and colleagues – whether they have symptoms or not.

In addition, we are accessing testing for our community based carers on an individual basis.

For individuals living in our housing schemes, we have not received any guidance regarding testing other than what has been publicly announced: anyone over the age of 65, who has symptoms, can request a test.

For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested

To apply for a test, visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test

Media enquiries

All enquiries from media/press should be directed to:

Matthew Bell, Marketing and Business Development Director

matthew.bell@brunelcare.org.uk or 07467 482 931

More information

If you have any concerns about visiting a Brunelcare site, or about a loved one, please contact the management team at that location.

If in doubt, email: info@brunelcare.org.uk or call 0117 914 4200.

Voluntary and Paid Opportunities

Now more than ever we welcome your support. Join us and help us continue to provide outstanding care for our clients.

Apply for our vital roles in response to Coronavirus.

Find out more about our voluntary opportunities.