Thankfully, the nation’s unlocking from lockdown restrictions has continued, although with a slight delay.

However, there are still requirements in place which members should seek to keep aware of during the final stages of lockdown easing.

For the time being, we remain in Stage 3 of the national easing roadmap, with the next stage not expected until July 19^th, however, the Government has suggested that should progress be made in tackling the Delta variant, this could be brought forward to July 5^th.

Further information on what you can and can’t do in Stage 3 can be found here.

Members may find it useful to consult the government guidance for supported living which can be found here. Particular notice should be taken to the section on risk assessments.

Wales update

In Wales, the Government has extended the six-month notice period for evictions to 30^th September.

Guidance on current Welsh restrictions can be found here.

Posted 22 May 21

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The Government has announced that from 17 May 2021, England will move to step 3 of its roadmap out of lockdown.

This will mean a further relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions that have been in place up until now.

The main changes likely to affect almshouses are:

• Up to 6 people or two households will now be able to meet indoors. Where people meet indoors, they should be encouraged to open a window. Meeting outside where possible is still a safer option
• Up to 30 people will be able to meet outdoors
• Hotels, B&Bs and hostels will now be able to open. Charities with guest rooms will now be able to open these should they wish. This is not obligatory however, and you should carry out a risk assessment first
• Indoor hospitality, such as bars and restaurants, can reopen
• Other indoor leisure and entertainment facilities will be allowed to open
• Travel within Britain and overnight stays will be allowed

The government has also advised that people will be able to make their own personal decision about close contact with friends and family. This means that your residents would be allowed to hug and sit next to a member of their family or friends should they wish to do so. Residents and their guests should be reminded about the risks associated with close contact however. Social distancing rules should be followed in all other contexts.

The rules around international travel will also be relaxed from 17 May. The government has announced a list of green countries which do not require the traveller to quarantine upon their return to England. They will instead be required to have a Covid test prior to returning home and another test upon their arrival home. Those arriving from ‘amber’ countries will be required to quarantine at home for 10 days and take two Covid tests. Those arriving from red list countries will be required to quarantine at a hotel for 10 days at their own expense. A list of green, amber and red countries and the rules for quarantining can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england.  Any residents or staff who travel overseas in the coming months should be reminded of these restrictions.

For larger charities with care facilities, the restrictions on care staff working at one location only remain in place and there isn’t a timescale yet for when these restrictions will be eased.

Wales update

Wales remains at alert level three. From 3 May, the following is allowed:

• Gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools and fitness facilities can open.
• Extended households can be formed with one other household.
• Indoor supervised activities for children can take place.
• Indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults can take place.
• Community centres can open.

Detailed guidance on restrictions in Wales can be found at https://gov.wales/alert-level-3.

Posted 12 May 21

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Members will be aware that shielding is now no longer necessary as of April 1^st.

From April 9^th, twice weekly rapid tests will be available for everyone to test at home. Regular testing, alongside the vaccine rollout are seen as integral to returning life to normal. By using these free test twice a week you can help to flag any potential outbreaks of coronavirus. The tests can be ordered online or collected from larger local pharmacies. You may wish to encourage your residents and staff to use these tests and let them know what they need to do if they test positive.

April 12^th marks the next stage of the Government’s roadmap from lockdown. Members should be aware that as of April 12^th:

• Non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres will re-open.
• Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups);
• As will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas.
• Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen. This may mean you can re-open your guest facilities but we would recommend undertaking a risk assessment first. You are, however, under no obligation to re-open if you do not feel it would be safe for your residents. 
• Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.
• While funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners, the number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

Posted 8 April 21

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The Government is currently expanding the provision of asymptomatic testing to help identify and isolate positive cases of Covid-19 among those who need to leave home to go to work.

There are currently two routes to testing available:

Workplace Testing

Workplace testing is provided by employers (with more than 50 employees) to their staff in both the private and public sectors. This is unlikely to be an option for the vast majority of almshouse charities given their size. If , however, you do employ 50 or more staff and would be interested in offering workplace testing, you can register your interest at:
www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests.

You will then be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and invited to a webinar to find out more information and decide whether to take part. Testing would be delivered by sites at the workplace.

Community Testing

Local authorities are delivering community testing via asymptomatic testing sites for those who need to leave their homes to go to work but are not offered testing by their employer. This is likely to include almshouse charities, particularly those that employ resident wardens who continue to work on site. If you charity wishes to use community testing, you should direct your employees to the DHSC postcode checker available at:
www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site.

Further Information

If you are a small charity with fewer than 50 employees and would like to know how to access testing for asymptomatic cases in your community, please contact CommunityTesting.CentralOps@dhsc.gov.uk.

If your charity has more than 50 employees and you have questions relating to workplace testing, please email p-and-psector@dhsc.gov.uk.

For more general queries about how these options for testing might work your charity, please contact MHCLGTestingEnquiries@communities.gov.uk.

Posted 8 March 21

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On Monday 22^nd February, the Government announced its four step plan for easing Coronavirus restrictions in England with the first changes taking place from March 8^th.

The Government will use four tests to determine whether easing can continue. These are:

1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.

The current plan for stage 1 easing is:

Monday 8th March

• You will be allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. You must continue to maintain social distance from those outside your household.
• Students in all schools and Further Education can return to face-to-face education
• Wraparound childcare can reopen
• One regular indoor visit for a single named visitor will be permitted in care homes. Almshouses may wish to adopt a similar approach at this stage if feasible

Monday 29th March

• Return of Rule of Six for meetings outdoors
• Outdoor sports facilities to reopen, including tennis, basketball courts and swimming pools
• Grassroots sports can also resume
• Funerals can proceed with 30 attendees and weddings can continue with 6 attendees
• End of legal requirement to Stay at Home

Further easing could be introduced no earlier than April 12^th, including reopening of non-essential retail, hospitality and personal care.

Assuming that cases remain at a controllable level and that no new variants emerge, restrictions will continue to ease every 5 weeks. Following this timeline it is expected that nearly all restrictions will be lifted on June 21^st.

However, it is important to stress that cases are still high and that there is a responsibility on us all to ensure that the easing can continue as planned. The proposed roadmap could also be altered and delayed depending on the Government’s four tests being met.

The Government also announced that a further 1.4 million people would now be classified as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable as a result of new evidence on a number of risk factors. This means that these individuals are advised to shield until March 31^st. These individuals will now have priority access to the Coronavirus vaccine as well as other support should they be unable to work. Members may wish to check with their residents who should receive a letter from the Department for Health and Social Care, as well as the local council regarding the change.

You can find all our Coronavirus information here.

Posted 23 February 21

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The Almshouse Association has written to all the Directors of Public Health regarding access to the Coronavirus vaccine for almshouse staff and residents.

We have so far received a number of positive responses from Directors around the country. In the file attached, members can see the status of response from their local authority in case action is required.

The Almshouse Association would urge our members to personally reach out to the local Director of Public Health or Director of Adult Social Services to flag your services directly. This is the most effective way of ensuring that your local council help your staff to access the vaccination.

There are also some local authorities who have advised that members should fill in a form which must be completed and returned to the local authority. Links to the forms have been included in the attached file.

Posted 20 Jan 21. Attachment to link updated 22 Feb 21

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The Almshouse Association is now aware that for the next 2 weeks, eligible frontline care workers can access their first Coronavirus vaccination via the National Booking Service. The Service allows individuals to book at a time and location which is convenient to them.

The guidance we have received notes:

“As with the current process, social care workers can access their vaccination appointment with a Local Authority-issued Notice of Eligibility. They can now also use a recent letter from their employer, along with photo identification which confirms their place of work. For those who do not have a work photo ID, as a minimum, a letter from their employer with another form of photo ID will be needed. Frontline social care workers should also be encouraged to inform their employers of their vaccination to enable this to be included in data returns to help us target support where needed.”

If you or your colleagues are eligible to be considered at this stage this link may be useful.

Posted 15 Feb 21

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Almshouse Access to the Coronavirus Vaccine

The Almshouse Association has been working hard to get clearer guidance from national Government regarding access to the Covid-19 vaccine.

This has included conversations with representatives of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government as well as supportive MPs and Lords.

Efforts have been underway to see all forms of supported housing have priority when it comes to testing and vaccination. We now understand that vaccination will begin on frontline social care workers directly working with vulnerable people who need care and support in any setting, including supported housing. This also encompasses those supported housing providers who don’t deliver a registered care service. The vaccination would most likely take place at one of the newly designated “hospital hubs”.

The Almshouse Association believes that members should contact their local authorities to make sure they are aware of the new directive, which they should have received from the Government, to ensure that your staff are included in the rollout. Many almshouses will meet the criteria for priority stated in the directive:

“Frontline social care workers directly working with vulnerable people who need care and support irrespective of where they work (for example in hospital, people’s own homes, day centres, or supported housing); or who they are employed by (for example local government, NHS, independent sector or third sector).”

The most appropriate contact for this correspondence would be the Directors of Public Health, and the Directors of Adult Social Care. You can find your local Director of Public Health here. Finding a direct email address for these individuals can be difficult, so you may wish to send it directly to your local council if you have not previously been in touch with the Public Health team.

The Almshouse Association is in the process of writing to each Director to further support representations should they be made locally. Should you face any difficulties then please do contact The Almshouse Association.

If you have residents that are over 80, it is likely their GP already has, or will soon be contacting them about the vaccine. We would not recommend directly calling GP surgeries at this time.

Posted 18 Jan 2021

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Meetings

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on holding meetings during the national lockdown.

• Where possible, it states that charities should hold meetings online or via telephone. Where this isn’t possible, however, trustees can continue to meet in person to deal with essential charity business. For more detailed guidance, visit: www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector
• If you do choose to hold an in person trustee meeting, please ensure that you follow strict Covid-19 safety guidance, including maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, and making sure you use a well ventilated room.

Vaccination Guides

The government has also issued some leaflets on the new vaccine. These are available in an easily printable format for you to share with residents and staff. These are available at:

• Vaccination Guide for Older Adults – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-for-older-adults
• Vaccination Guide: Why are you being asked to wait? – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait

Shielding

The government has updated its guidance on shielding, which has been reintroduced for the third national lockdown. Those who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and therefore are being asked to shield, will also receive a letter from their GP with this information. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Posted 11 January 2021

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England has once again moved into a full national lockdown.

The lockdown restrictions will be in place for a minimum of seven weeks with the next review due to take place on 15 February. The Government hopes to offer the first dose of the vaccine to the most at-risk groups during this period, including those over the age of 70 and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable.

The Rules

You must stay at home and only go out for a limited number of reasons, including:

• To work where it is not reasonably possible to work from home
• To shop for basic necessities for you or a vulnerable person
• To exercise with your household/support bubble. You can exercise with one other person from outside your household/support bubble but this should be limited to once per day
• To meet your support or childcare bubble
• To seek medical assistance or to escape harm (including domestic abuse)
• To attend education or childcare (NB nurseries remain open but schools are only open to vulnerable children and children of key workers

You should not meet socially with anyone who is not in your household or support bubble. When exercising, you should remain within your local area.

There are currently no restrictions on moving home during the lockdown, though people from outside your household or support bubble should not help with the move unless necessary. This means that residents that are due to move into one of your almshouses can continue to do so. If you’re currently looking to fill a vacancy, you will need to conduct any interviews by video or teleconference. When a resident moves in, they should only be greeted by one member of staff or trustee and social distancing should be maintained at all times.  

Full details on the lockdown can be found at:
www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home. 

Restrictions also continue to apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Details on these restrictions can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Shielding

Those who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable will be sent a letter by their GP shortly with details on action they should take and support that is available to them. Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable should not attend work and limit their exposure to other people. They should limit their time outside their homes to medical appointments and exercises only.

Please note that whilst older people are more at risk of severe illness if they contract Covid-19, old age itself does not class someone as clinically extremely vulnerable. To find out more about who is classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, visit:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19#cev

What you should be doing?

The new lockdown is very similar to that in March last year and your charity should revert to the processes it had in place at that time. This could include:

• Closing common rooms and ensuring that outdoor furniture is adequately spaced apart to allow for social distancing
• Regular cleaning of high touchpoint areas, such as entrance halls and stairwells (particularly handrails)
• Closing guest rooms
• Replacing warden visits with regular phone calls
• Contacting next of kin and local volunteer groups to ensure residents are getting shopping delivered
• Developing a rota for communal facilities such as laundries and ensuring that they are cleaned on a more frequent basis. Provide hand sanitiser and cleaning wipes for residents to use whilst in these areas
• Providing residents with puzzles, games and details of exercises they can do within their own homes to keep them healthy and occupied
• Developing and advising residents of the process they should follow if they believe they have contracted Cobid-19 and/or are hospitalised. You may wish to ask residents to update their next of kin details

The Government has developed guidance for managers of supported living. Although some of the guidance will not be relevant to almshouse charities, it nonetheless provides guidance on cleaning, PPE, managing outbreaks, and visitors and support bubbles. The guidance can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-living-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-supported-living.

Don’t forget, the Almshouse Association offers an online course on infection prevention and control. You may wish to ask your staff to complete this course in the coming days. If your charity requires more course credits (you will need one credit per person to take the course), please contact us at admin@almshouses.org. The course can be found at:
www.almshouses.org/training-seminars/online-training-sessions/

Some almshouse charities may choose to treat their residents as one household and ‘close the gates’. Before taking this approach, you must get the agreement of all residents that this is what they would like to do. Residents may prefer to form support bubbles with other households instead.

If you believe a resident is breaking the lockdown rules, you should speak to the resident and remind them of the restrictions and the impact their behaviour could have on their neighbours. This should be followed up with a written warning if they continue to break the rules. In extreme circumstances (e.g. if a resident regularly has multiple guests), you may wish to contact the police.

Posted 5 January 21

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