What should almshouse charities do now?

Following the Government’s recent relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions, we have been contacted by a number of charities asking what they can and cannot do.

The main changes likely to affect almshouses are as follows:

• Shielding – those considered clinically extremely vulnerable are now allowed to meet outside in groups of no more than six people and create a support bubble with one other household. The government has indicated the shielding will be paused on 1 August but strict social distancing will still be advised.
• Over-70s and those with underlying health conditions – this group is still advised to avoid social contact with others but, if they do with to meet with others, to follow the social distancing guidance carefully.
• All others – everyone else is now allowed to meet another household in any setting – public or private, indoors or outside. We are advised to all still follow social distancing and good hygiene rules when meeting with other households though. Overnight stays away from home with one other household.

Full details on the relaxation of the coronavirus restrictions can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

Some charities have implemented stricter lockdowns than the government advised. If this is the case for your charity, you could now start to look at easing these in consultation with your residents.

If you have removed any services to residents, you may wish to look at reintroducing these in a coronavirus secure way. This may include reintroducing warden visits if you are able to provide adequate personal protective equipment to your staff and social distancing measures are followed.

It is not clear whether communal rooms can be reopened. Although gathering of up to 30 people are allowed, it is still recommended that those gathering do not interact with more than one other household at a time. We recommend that you look at the particular circumstances of your property and residents and carry out a thorough risk assessment.

If you do decide to open your communal area, you will need to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. This may require you to limit the number of people who can use the room at any one time, removing some of the furniture to allow for more space, putting down floor markings, and providing hand sanitiser. These areas will need to be cleaned more often.

The re-opening of any guest room facilities you offer will also depend on the set up of your property and the residents you cater to. It is important to carry out a risk assessment and, if you do decide to re-open any guest rooms, ensure that they are coronavirus secure. Things you may wish to consider include:

• limiting the number of nights that a guest can stay
• limiting guests to emergencies only (e.g. if a resident has been discharged from hospital)
• increasing the guest room charge to cover any additional cleaning/PPE costs you may incur
• putting in any additional terms you think appropriate to minimise the risk of infection to the wider almshouse community

Local lockdowns may be implemented in your area and you should receive information from your local authority on the measures being implemented if this does happen. Make sure your residents are aware of the rules around the test and trace system and remind them that if they are asked to do so, they will be required to self-isolate for two weeks. If they are asked to do this, they need to make you aware so that you can organise any help they might need. More information about the test and trace system can be found at:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/  

Posted 9 July 2020

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To help our members access the most up-to-date information and guidance, we have now moved to dated updates. This will hopefully make our coronavirus updates easier and quicker to read. We will update this page as and when new information arises and/or we develop new guidance.

For the most up-to-date government advice, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Monday 29th June 2020

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for charitable companies and CIOs in relation to new laws affecting members’ meetings and insolvency. These provisions are set out in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and came into effect on 26 June. The Charity Commission guidance states:

‘AGMs for companies or CIOs: any that had to be held between 26 March 2020 and 21 August 2020 can be delayed until 30 September 2020 at the latest. This is allowed by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and also applies to community benefit and friendly societies. It temporarily overrides the timing requirements in a charity’s governing documents. This deadline of 30 September may be extended if the government thinks this is needed. We will update with any changes if they happen.’

The new laws do not apply to unincorporated charities. If the governing document of an unincorporated charities specifies when an AGM should be held, the charity can amend its governing document to allow more flexibility.

To read the full guidance, please go to:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

Wednesday 24th June 2020

The Government has announced a wide range of measures that come into effect over the coming days/weeks:

Those who are shielding: What has changed?

The government has updated its guidance for people who are shielding taking into account that coronavirus COVID-19 infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks. This guidance remains advisory.

People who are shielding remain vulnerable and should continue to take precautions but may now choose to leave their home, as long as they are able to maintain strict social distancing. If you choose to spend time outdoors, you may do so with members of your own household. If you live alone, you can spend time outdoors with one person from another household or you may choose to spend time outdoors with one person from another household. Ideally, this should be the same person each time.

If you do go out, you should take extra care to minimise contact with others by keeping 2 metres apart. This guidance will be kept under regular review.

On 22 June the government set out a series of steps for further relaxing shielding guidance which will come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.

From 6 July, the government will be advising:

• you may, if you wish, meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from different households, while maintaining strict social distancing
• you no longer need to observe social distancing with other members of your household
• in line with the wider guidance for single adult households (either an adult living alone or with dependent children under 18) in the general population, you may from this date, if you wish, also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance

From 1 August the Government will be advising that shielding will be paused. From this date, the Government is advising you to adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures. Strict social distancing means you may wish to go out to more places and see more people but you should take particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household or support bubble.

In practice this means that from 1 August:

• you can go to work, if you cannot work from home, as long as the business is COVID-safe
• children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings if they are eligible and in line with their peers. Where possible children should practise frequent hand washing and social distancing
• you can go outside to buy food, to places of worship and for exercise but you should maintain strict social distancing
• you should remain cautious as you are still at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirus, so the advice is to stay at home where possible and, if you do go out, follow strict social distancing

The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable group remains advisory. More detailed advice will be updated in this guidance as the changes in advice come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.

Unless the Government sees a significant rise in cases they expect the shielding programme to be paused on 31 July.

Those in receipt of centrally provided food boxes and medicine deliveries will continue to receive this support until the end of July if they want it.

Read further information on schools and the workplace for those living in households where people are shielding.

Distancing guidelines [for those that are not shielding]

From 4 July the 2m distancing rule will be changed. The PM advised that the 2m distancing rule is still the ideal, but where it is not possible, people should keep a distance of “one metre plus” – this means staying one metre apart, whilst observing a number of precautions to reduce the risk of transmission. These precautions include:

• Sitting side to side rather than face to face
• Continued use of face coverings
• Increased use of hand sanitiser/washing hands properly

Hospitality

• Restaurants and pubs will also be allowed to reopen from 4 July, providing they follow safety guidelines.
• All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service, and contact between staff and customers will be limited.
• Customers will have to give contact details when they enter a pub or restaurant.
• People in England will be free to stay away from home overnight for the first time since lockdown began in March.

Meeting other households

• Two households of any size will be able to meet indoors or outside.
• This does not have to be the same set of households – but the government does not recommend meetings of multiple households indoors because of the risk of infection.
• Outdoors, people from multiple households can meet in groups of up to six – but two households can meet regardless of size.

What else will reopen?

• Hairdressers will be able to reopen, as long as they take precautions.
• Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries will be able to open, along with funfairs and theme parks, amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, indoor leisure centres, social clubs and model villages.
• Places of worship will be able to open for prayers and services.

Thursday 11 June 2020

The government has updated its guidance on meeting people from outside your household. In addition to the measures introduced at the beginning of June, new rules will be introduced on 13^th June for single person households (those who live alone) and single parent households.

Under the new rules, people from single person and single parent households will be able to form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. Those in the support bubble will be able to spend time in each others’ homes without needing to stay 2m apart. They will also be able to stay overnight. Details about the new rules can be found at:  

www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household

The new rules are likely to impact almshouse residents, many of whom live alone. You should make your residents aware of the changes and, if their letter of appointment asks them to do so, remind them that they should inform you if they’re going to be away from the almshouses overnight. Some almshouses have treated their community as a single household for the purposes of the lockdown, which has enabled residents to continue to interact with each other indoors over the past few months. If this is the approach your charity has taken, we would suggest speaking to your residents to see whether this is something they wish to continue or if they would like to move to the new government rules from 13^th June.

This new guidance does not apply to those who are clinically extremely vulnerable who will need to continue to shield until 30^th June 2020. Details about who should be shielding and what they can or cannot do can be found at:

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

Monday 8 June 2020

Panel of Consultants member, Stone King, will be holding a webinar on 17^th June titled ‘Post-Lockdown Risk Assessments and Moving On – An Almshouse Toolkit’. The webinar will provide legal guidance and practical tips as we start to emerge from the lockdown. Full details about the webinar, including booking information, can be found at:

www.stoneking.co.uk/event/webinar-post-lockdown-risk-assessments-and-moving-almshouse-toolkit-17062020

The Charity Commission has updated it’s guidance on reporting serious incidents, which includes examples of serious incidents as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-serious-incidents-to-the-charity-commission-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic.

Wednesday 3 June 2020

The government has updated its guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities. The main changes are around the maintenance and repair works on properties, which can now take place provided social distancing and hygiene measures are adhered to and the resident is not shielding or self-isolating.

It also offers guidance around moving home, which is also now allowed. If your charity has a vacancy, you may need to consider how to manage this process in a safe way. Some options could be to hold interviews via video conference (e.g. Zoom) and offering a virtual tour of the property. If your residents are particularly vulnerable and there are communal spaces, you may wish to ask the person moving in to self-isolate for up to 14 days.

The full guidance can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.

The government has also issued guidance on working safely during coronavirus. There are eight different guides available, covering different types of work. The most relevant to almshouse charities are likely to be ‘Offices and Contact Centres’ and ‘Other People’s Homes’. Each guide offers advice on risks that need to be considered, social distancing, cleaning and PPE. You can find the full list of guides at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19. 

Monday 1 June 2020

The government has announced that from today groups of up to six people are able to meet outdoors in England, including in gardens and other private outdoor spaces, provided strict social distancing guidelines are followed. This will enable people to see their friends and family. They must not, however, meet indoors as the risk of contracting Covid-19 is increased.

The government has produced some guidance on how to access green spaces safely. These can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

Those who received a letter from their GP asking them to shield are also now allowed to leave home to exercise with someone from their household or, if they live alone, with one other person from outside their household so long as social distancing is maintained. These people are still advised not to go shopping and to keep any contact with people from outside their household to a minimum. Please note that this guidance is for England only at this stage. The updated guidance for those who are shielding can be found at:

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

In Scotland, people are allowed to meet outside with residents from one other household at a time and no more than eight people at one time (e.g. two households of four people). They can meet in parks or private gardens. People in Scotland are also advised not to travel more than five miles from their homes. Those who are shielding should continue to do so. Similar rules will apply in Wales, though there will be no limit to the number of people from the two households.

In Northern Ireland, groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors.

What does this mean for your charity and residents?

If you closed your communal gardens at the start of the lockdown, you may wish to look at opening these up. If you have a number of residents who would like to meet their families and friends at the almshouses, you may wish to have a booking system in place to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. You should remind residents and visitors of good hygiene practices and provide hand sanitiser where appropriate. If you provide any garden furniture, you will need to consider how this will be cleaned between use. Residents should also be reminded of their obligations under the new NHS Test and Trace scheme (see 28 May 2020 update)

Communal lounges and kitchens should remain closed to discourage residents from meeting indoors.

We’re aware that some almshouse charities chose to implement stricter lockdowns back in March in consultation with their residents. You will need to start thinking about how you are going to relax these measures whilst keeping your residents safe. This may require you to consult with your residents again to see how they would like to proceed. A good starting point may be to allow your residents to meet family members in the communal garden, following the guidance given above. If you are not able to offer this straight away, you should advise your residents that you are working to find the safest way of doing this and give them an idea of when they might be able to use the garden.

If you continue to maintain a strict lockdown for an extended period of time, you may find your residents and their families start to get a bit agitated and you will need to consider how you manage this.

For May updates, click here
For April updates, click here
Pre April Covid19 webpage here.

Posted 1 June 2020; lasted updated 29 June 2020 11:14 am

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To help our members access the most up-to-date information and guidance, we have now moved to dated updates.

This will hopefully make our coronavirus updates easier and quicker to read. We will update this page as and when new information arises and/or we develop new guidance.

You can continue to find our previous coronavirus webpage here.

For the most up-to-date Government advice, please visit:

www.gov.uk.

Thursday 28 May 2020

The Government has today launched the NHS Test and Trace service across England. The hope is that this service will help identify, contain and reduce the spread of Covid-19. Under the new scheme:

• Anyone showing symptoms of the virus will be tested
• If their test is positive, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace (most likely by text or email) and asked to provide details about their recent interactions, including household members, people with whom they’ve been in direct contact, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes
• People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, to stop unknowingly spreading the virus

The NHS Test and Trace service will give clear information explaining what the identified person must do and how they can access local support services if needed. The Department for Work and Pensions has also announced that those having to self-isolate who cannot work from home will be eligible for statutory sick pay.

More information can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-launches-nhs-test-and-trace-service.

Similar schemes are being implemented in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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How will this affect almshouses?

This could affect staff and residents.

If a resident is asked to self-isolate because they’ve had contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, they may need help with things like shopping. You should contact all residents and ask them to get in touch with you if they are asked to self-isolate and determine any support they might need. Other residents won’t be required to self-isolate. If the resident starts to show symptoms of coronavirus, they will need to be tested and provide the relevant details to the NHS Track and Trace service.

If a member of staff becomes unwell or is asked to self-isolate and is unable to work from home, you will need to ensure adequate cover for their role, particularly if they have been providing support to residents during the lockdown (e.g. getting shopping on their behalf). We would recommend developing contingency plans for such circumstances.

Thursday 21 May 2020

Applications for funding under the Government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund will open on Friday 22 May at 10:00. The £200m fund is intended to support community support to vulnerable people and to prevent the closure of essential charities and social enterprises. The allocation of funding is being managed by the National Lottery Community Fund. Details on how to apply for funding can be found at:

www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/press-releases/2020-05-20/statement-about-the-coronavirus-community-support-fund

MP and former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron, has secured confirmation from Cumbria County Council that they will raise the concerns of almshouses in the region around PPE with Cumbria CVS. Almshouse charities in Cumbria who are looking for PPE can contact the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum PPE Emergency Contact Centre on 0800 783 1967 if they need help accessing PPE.

In addition to a continuous cough and high temperature, the government has added a new symptom of coronavirus to look out for – the loss or change of sense of smell or taste. If you or any of your residents experience this symptom, you should contact NHS 111 in the first instance.

Monday 18 May 2020

The government has today announced that anyone over the age of 5 who is displaying coronavirus symptoms can get tested. Details on how to request a test can be found at

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-for-coronavirus/ask-for-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus

A letter from the Minister of Housing has been send to all social housing residents in England, setting out the measures that are in place to support them during the next phase towards reopening society.  Although this letter is for those who live in homes provided by Registered Social Landlords, the advice should be seen as good practice for all forms of social housing. A copy of the letter can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-letter-to-social-housing-residents

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme this year is kindness. If you or your charity would like to get involved, you can find more information at:

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week   

Wednesday 13 May 2020

The Charity Commission has updated it guidance around the increased risk to charities of fraud and cybercrime during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes a pre-recorded webinar, which can be accessed at any time.

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-increased-risk-of-fraud-and-cybercrime-against-charities

The Government has amended the Coronavirus Act 2020 to allow people to move home. It has published specific guidance for the clinically vulnerable (e.g. those over the age of 70, those with chronic health conditions and those who have been asked to shield) and registered social landlords. The new guidance can be found at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/government-advice-on-home-moving-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

The government has also issued guidance for people working in, visiting or delivering to other people’s homes. The guidance is likely to be relevant to any contractors and/or tradespersons who may be working at your almshouses. It includes advice on PPE, social distancing and cleaning their work areas.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes

Monday 11 May 2020

Following the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday evening, the government has today published more details on its plans to ease the current lockdown. The details can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/our-plan-to-rebuild-the-uk-governments-covid-19-recovery-strategy.

The government has also published some FAQs on what this means in practice for the public. You may wish to distribute these to your residents.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

click here for April updates

Posted 11 May 2020, last updated 28 May 2020

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Following a letter sent to The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak MP, The Almshouse Association has received a response in the form of a letter from Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Kemi Badenoch MP, representing The Treasury.

The letter sets out in detail what support is being provided to charities at various levels to support them and enable them to continue to provide their vital services. The full letter can be found here.

Here at The Almshouse Association we are glad that the Government is listening to and responding to our concerns. The levels of political engagement with the almshouse movement during this ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been exceptional and we are incredibly grateful for the support and cooperation of politicians from all parties across the UK.

Posted 18 May 2020

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To help our members access the most up-to-date information and guidance, we have now moved to dated updates.

This will hopefully make our coronavirus updates easier and quicker to read. We will update this page as and when new information arises and/or we develop new guidance.

You can continue to find our previous coronavirus webpage here.

For the most up-to-date Government advice, please visit:

www.gov.uk.

Wednesday 29 April 2020

From today, those with symptoms of coronavirus who are over-65s or have to leave home to go to work are now able to self-refer for a Covid-19 test. People in these groups can either apply for a home test or apply for a test at a regional testing site. Please note, however, that testing capacity each day is limited and is booked up extremely quickly. We recommend applying as early in the day as possible for your best chance of receiving a test. Applications can be made at:

https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/test-type

We have updated our list of PPE suppliers, which can be found here. Please note that we have not researched these companies in depth and recommend that your charity undertakes some due diligence before ordering.

As we approach the end of our sixth week in lockdown, some of you may be worried about the mental health of your staff and residents during these challenging times. Several charities have developed resources to help support those who are struggling.

Mind has developed a hub of information to support those suffering from anxiety, loneliness and grief. It contains resources for all ages and has specific advice for those who need to go to work and might be worried about this. You can access the hub at:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/

Age UK offer tips and guidance for elderly people on staying safe and well at home, including information on how to stay connected and tips on how to keep busy.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/staying-safe-and-well-at-home/

Age UK also offers Call in Time, a telephone befriending service to help combat loneliness. Find out more at:

www.ageuk.org.uk/services/befriending-services/sign-up-for-telephone-befriending/

Don’t forget, we offer a free, online mental health awareness course to our members. To find our more, visit:

www.almshouses.org/seminars-and-events/training-seminars/

Tuesday 28 April 2020

A number of oranisations are hosting free webinars to support charities during the Covid-19 lockdown. A few that are coming up over the next few days are:

NCVO – Governing during a pandemic: what are the key things trustees need to focus on

Stone King LLP – Endowments, charity land disposals and support for charity property owners during COVID-19

National Housing Federation – Coronavirus: finance and regulation for smaller housing associations

You do not need to download any specific software to take part – just follow the instructions in your confirmation email a few minutes before the webinar is due to start. Most last an hour and there’s the opportunity to ask the presenters questions.

Don’t forget, we also offer a number of online training courses, which can be found at:

www.almshouses.org/seminars-and-events/training-seminars.

We’re also looking to host a webinar on trustee recruitment in June. We will get in touch with all members in due course with more details. 

Monday 27 April 2020

Housing LIN has developed some useful guidance on supporting residents, family and friends after a bereavement and includes links to bereavement support services. You can access the briefing note at:

www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/type/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Top-tips-in-Bereavement-Care-in-Specialist-Housing/

The Charity Commission has published guidance on how to manage financial difficulties in your charity caused by coronavirus. This includes tips on how to review your current financial situation and minimise costs if needed. The guidance can be found at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/manage-financial-difficulties-in-your-charity-caused-by-coronavirus.

Tuesday 21 April 2020

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Further to the information we provided yesterday (Monday 20th April 2020), we have been advised that the PHE telephone number given below should not be used to request PPE as this department is no longer dealing with this. We will update members with a new telephone number as soon as one becomes available. 

Richard Macey, Director of Charities at M&G Investments, has given an update on the M&G Fund and the impact of Covid-19 on investments. You can read Richard update at:

www.almshouses.org/news/mg-fund-update/

The Charity Commission has warned of an increased risk of fraud and cybercrime against charities during the Covid-19 pandemic. They have issued some guidance on what to look out for and the main types of scams being used.

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-increased-risk-of-fraud-and-cybercrime-against-charities

The Charity IT Association (CITA) is offering a free, two-hour IT consultation to help charities develop their IT capability. Their Tech Surgery is usually £100 for charities with a turnover of more than £50,000 but will be free of charge to all charities during the Covid-19 outbreak.

www.charityithelp.org

Monday 20 April 2020

The Almshouse Association been in touch with Public Health England/Department of Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock’s office, Jo Churchill and others to make sure that almshouses are not overlooked when it comes to support for the sector with a particular concern over PPE and testing.

We are currently working with the various departments however, in the interim, we have been advised that the best thing to do would be for each individual almshouse to call PHE’s main switchboard on 020 7654 8000. From there, you should select option 9 where the operator can provide you with a number through which you will be able to find out about PPE in your area. You will need to provide a postcode to do so. If there is any reason why you do not qualify, let us know and we will try and break the deadlock. We are sorry that we can’t do more at present but we are working on this as a priority.

The Department of Health and Social Care report Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care action plan was published last week and provides some useful information on distribution of PPE. This includes details of seven wholesalers that are providing supplies to care providers registered with the CQC (and hopefully broader stakeholders such as almshouses): Careshop, Blueleaf, Delivernet, Countrywide Healthcare, Nexon Group, Wightman and Parrish and Gompels. The Association has contacted these suppliers; details of their supply capability and purchase criteria are recorded here

Thursday 16 April 2020

The Almshouse Association has made a representation to the government on personal protective equipment (PPE) and Covid-19 testing in almshouses. You can read the update from our Chief Executive here

The government and Public Health England have previously published guidance on PPE at:

• Department of Health and Social Care: Covid-19: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Plan (10 April 2020)
• Public Health England: COVID-19: guidance for supported living provision – Personal Protective Equipment

On Wednesday 15 April, the government also published its adult social care action plan, which includes information on supporting those who require health and care services. This can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-adult-social-care-action-plan

Tuesday 14 April 2020

Last week the UK government announced a £750m package to help charities during the Covid-19 outbreak. Few details have been given so far but The Almshouse Association is looking at whether almshouse charities will be able to access any of this funding and, if so, how. We will keep you updated.

The National Emergencies Trust has launched a coronavirus appeal and small charities that support vulnerable people can apply for grants from their local community foundation. To find your nearest local community foundation, please visit:

www.nationalemergenciestrust.org.uk/coronavirus

If you provide homes to over-75s and are worried that you residents might be suffering from loneliness during the Cobid-19 outbreak, you can refer them to Re-engage (formerly Contact the Elderly). The charity provides call companions and you can refer an elderly person via their website.

www.reengage.org.uk/refer/

For more information on reducing loneliness and social isolation, check out the Housing LIN’s new resources at:

www.housinglin.org.uk/Topics/browse/loneliness-and-isolation/

Thursday 9 April 2020

Press reports are suggesting that the current lock down is likely to continue beyond next week with the possibility of more stringent lock down measures being put in place. We recommend keeping an eye on the government website over the coming days for any formal announcements.

The Almshouse Association office will be closed for the Easter weekend. We will, however, be back at 9:00 on Tuesday 14 April. You can still contact us by phone or email but we will not be able to respond until next week.

Charity Bank have developed an online Covid-19 hub with useful resources for charities. You can also sign up to their newsletter for regular updates.

https://charitybank.org/news/covid-19-resource-hub

Wednesday 8 April 2020

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for charities during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes new guidance on SORP and safeguarding. This can be found at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

Don’t forget: We offer free online safeguarding training here

The Almshouse Association has published guidance on what to do if one of your residents passes away. This is based on the guidance already given in Standards of Almshouse Management and Support and Care, but also contains some information on what to do if one of your residents dies after contracting coronavirus. You can view the guidance at:

www.almshouses.org/news/in-the-event-of-the-death-of-a-resident/

A number of our member charities have shared what they’re doing to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak in their almshouses. A summary of what they’re doing can be found at:

www.almshouses.org/news/looking-after-your-residents-during-the-covid-19-lockdown/

The National Council of Volunteers (NCVO) has made a number of its member-only resources available to all during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes information on including volunteers. Take a look at their guidance at:

https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/coronavirus/involving-volunteers#

First Posted 8 April 2020 12:56; last updated 29 April 2020 – see more recent updates for latest news on Covid-19

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The Charity Commission has published guidance for the charity sector on how to run your charity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Information includes:

• Charity objects: understand if you can help with coronavirus efforts
• Government financial support for charities
• Using reserves and restricted funds
• AGMs and other meetings: postponing or cancelling meetings
• Holding meetings online or by telephone
• Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission
• Keeping people safe
• Working with a company or business to help with coronavirus
• Charity SORP guidance
• Information from other organisations

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Posted 16 April 20

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Feeling overwhelmed with all of the advice you are reading and hearing and wondering how to put it into practice ?

The Association went out to some of our members to see what processes they’ve put in place to deal with the Covid-19 outbreak.

We received over 20 responses and have summarised some of the feedback below. At the end of this article, you can also access a pdf of full responses from some of our contributors. We hope you find it useful.

How are you supporting your vulnerable residents at this time? 

Our members are making regular calls to residents either by telephone or through their call system. Those residents who prefer not to be called are contacted by text or email. The frequency of calls depends on needs of the resident – most respondents said they were calling more vulnerable residents on a more regular basis. Some of our members are also keeping in touch with friends and next of kin of their residents.

Through calls with residents and next of kin, members are prioritising their most vulnerable residents and providing additional services to them, including shopping and collecting prescriptions.

Some members are managing external services, such as newspapers and milk deliveries, to prevent the need for residents to leave their homes too often and to limit the number of delivery people accessing the site.

Some members are putting together packs of wordsearches, crosswords and quizzes to help those in isolation. Others have launched newsletters and are regularly updating their websites to keep their residents up-to-date on what’s going on.

Some members have reported that residents are also supporting each other, particularly in schemes where there is a mixture of ages where younger residents have offered to help the more vulnerable with tasks such as shopping.  

What action have you taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19?

The majority of members who responded have closed their communal lounges/kitchens and are undertaking daily cleaning of other communal areas with a particular focus on door handles and rails. Where contracted cleaning staff are no longer able to attend, other charity staff have taken on this responsibility.

The majority of almshouse staff are now working from home where possible. Phones have been diverted to mobile phones so that residents can still contact staff. Where staff numbers have reduced due to illness, emergency calls are being diverted to Careline (or similar facilities).

Some of our members have chosen to lock down their almshouses and are not allowing visitors in and, in some cases, are asking residents not to go out. If your charity is looking to take a similar approach, we would suggest consulting with your residents first and addressing any concerns they might have. You should also consider whether your lockdown can be enforced bearing in mind the government restriction announced in March and the law. You should also communicate with residents regularly on the status of the lockdown. We have written about this in more detail here.

Are you residents respecting the social distancing measures? If not, how are you dealing with these?

Initially quite a few of our members found that their residents were unwilling to abide by the social distancing rules. Since the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March, however, the situation seems to have improved.

Many are experiencing instances where individuals are not following the government guidelines. They are reminding their residents of the importance of following the measures, though it is difficult to enforce the rules when the majority of staff are working from home.

In some extreme instances, some of our members have contacted the police to speak to individuals who are not following the measures.

How are you handling property maintenance and essential safety checks? 

None of the members we received responses from are carrying out anything but emergency repairs and have communicated this to their residents. Where emergency repairs are needed, residents have been asked to stay in another room whilst they take place. Contractors are being reminded to follow social distancing rules and wear gloves/facemasks where possible. One of our members is providing their contractors with PPE packages when they’re onsite, including face masks, foot coverings, aprons and gloves. 

Routine safety checks are still taking place where possible and many of our members are following the guidance published by the Regulator for Social Housing and the National Housing Federation.

www.gov.uk/government/news/rsh-statement-on-coronavirus

www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blogs/news/safety-checks-and-coronavirus/

Please note: These guidance provided by the Regulator for Social Housing and National Housing Federation were up-to-date at the point of publication (6 April 2020). Members should continue to check both websites for regular updates.

How are you maintaining contact with your residents?

Our members are making regular contact with residents by telephone, newsletters, and alerts on their websites. Where wardens are still working, some are also knocking on their residents’ windows to check that they’re ok.  One of our members has said that they’re looking into the possibility of using videoconferencing tools such as Zoom and Houseparty, for their more tech-savvy residents.

How are you/or your residents interacting with community groups?

Some of our members’ residents are interacting with community groups and other support services. The most common ones mentioned were the local church, Age UK, Covid Mutal Aid and community hubs being run by the local authority. These groups are being used to help with shopping where needed and for befriending phone calls where offered.

Many of our members are handling shopping and regular contact with their residents themselves or in conjunction with their residents’ next of kin and so have not needed to use these services so far. Some are considering using them as a back-up if an individual resident’s support network is unable to provide help for whatever reason.

How are your residents managing to maintain fitness?

Residents are being encouraged to walk around the almshouse charity grounds where they exist but at different times of the day and keeping to the social distancing measures. Some charities have provided their residents with some simple chair-based exercises. The majority of member charities that responded, however, are not involved in their residents’ fitness routines during the pandemic.

How are your residents getting shopping?

Where residents are able to, they are getting their own shopping either by going out or having it delivered. Those who are not leaving their homes are having shopping delivered by friends, family, almshouse staff or local volunteers. Those who are dropping off shopping are being asked to either leave it at the resident’s doorstep or at the gates of the almshouses if they would need to access communal areas to reach the resident’s property.

One almshouse charity has set up a shop, which is being run by residents, so that they don’t need to go out for their shopping. Other charities have organised deliveries of some basic essentials to reduce the need for their residents to go out.

What are you doing to ensure you can maintain your charity and services during an extended period of lockdown?

Many of our members are continuing as usual with members of staff working from home where possible. Some already had or have put contingency plans in place to ensure the continued running of the charity in the case of staff or trustee absence due to sickness or self-isolation.

The main concern expressed by our members was around cash flow and the long term loss of income from investments and vacant properties. They are looking at what effect this is going to have on their services and what action they may need to take to mitigate this (e.g postponing cyclical maintenance work in 2020)

Some of our members are holding regular meetings with staff and trustees by phone or videoconference. This allows them to discuss potential issues and take action where possible.

A Big Thank You to everyone who has participated in this project . If you would like to share your experiences or any tips with our members, please contact Rosie Sweeney at rosiesweeney@almshouses.org.

To read the responses of those members who are happy to share their feedback publicly, please click here

Posted 6 Apr 2020 16:12; last updated 14 April 2020 13:45

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This is a very challenging situation for all and many almshouse trustees and clerks are working through the difficult balance of protecting residents through reiterating guidance and advice and respecting independent living.

The Association would like to offer some guidance to help work out that balance and avoid stress to staff, residents and potential negative publicity.

We are aware that our members have taken a number of different approaches to protecting their residents, from simply reminding them of the government guidelines of social distancing, shielding and self-isolation, to full lockdowns where only a limited group of people are allowed to enter the almshouse complex.

Where an almshouse charity chooses to implement a full lockdown, we recommend that you do this in consultation with your residents and keeping in mind the current government guidelines which state that individuals are allowed to leave their homes to:

• Go shopping for basic necessities and medicine as infrequently as possible
• Take one form of exercise a day alone or with a member of their household
• Attend a medical appointment, donate blood or provide care to vulnerable person
• Travel to work if they are unable to work from home

If your charity chooses to implement a lockdown which places more stringent restrictions on your residents without their full support, you may struggle to enforce these and, where you do, you may not have the support of the courts if the matter is taken further. The only instance where your charity may be able to take action against a resident is if they are deliberately endangering others within the community or their actions fall under the terms of your letter of appointment as anti-social behaviour (e.g. they are inviting friends or family into the almshouses) and any action has to follow the usual procedures. If your residents are going out for shopping or to take some exercise, you cannot prevent them from doing this – you can only encourage them to do this in reference to the government guidelines.

We recommend keeping an eye on government guidance around social distancing and continually remind your residents of the restrictions in place. If you feel that your residents are deliberately ignoring the restrictions and you feel are putting others at increased stress and risk then you could consider reporting them to the police who will be able to speak to the resident and take further action if needed.

Members have been sharing with the Association what practices they have put in place. If you would like to read about what other almshouse charities have found is working for them, please click here

Posted 6 April 2020 15:10

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For the most up-to-date coronavirus news, please visit:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

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

These websites are updated daily with the latest government guidance and should be your first port of call for coronavirus information over the coming weeks.  The BBC also offers a good overview of the latest developments at:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers.

Please note: This guidance was first published on 24 March 2020. We will be updating it as and when government advice changes or when we find new resources that could help your charity over the coming months.

Shielding, Self-isolation and Social Distancing

The government has now announced a complete lock down with severe limits to people’s day-to-day activities. You are now only allowed to leave your home:

• To purchase essential supplies. This should be done as infrequently as possible
• For medical reasons or to support a vulnerable person
• For one form of exercise a day (this must be alone or with one other member of your household)
• To travel to and from work but only if this is absolutely necessary

Non-essential shops have been closed and the police now have the power to disperse gatherings of more than two people and impose fines on those flouting these rules. These measures will apply initially for a period of three weeks (23 March to 13 April) but this could be extended.

Stricter measures are still advised in the following categories.:

Shielding

Shielding is for those who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (Covid-19) because of an underlying health condition, regardless of their age. This includes:

• Solid organ transplant recipients
• People with specific cancers, e.g. lung cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma (please check government guidance for more details)
• People with severe respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
• People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
• People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
• Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.

People who fall into this categories will be contacted by their GP by letter no later than 29 March 2020. They are strongly advised to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for a period of at least 12 weeks from the day they receive their letter.

Self-isolation

If one of your residents or someone in their household has symptoms of the coronavirus – a dry cough and/or a high temperature – then the Government requires everyone in that household to self-isolate at home. This means avoiding all social contact, remaining at home and only allowing essential visitors, such as NHS or care workers. If your resident need to have something delivered or if family and friends are bringing shopping or other essentials, then they should drop them to the doorstep.

The current advice is to self-isolate at home for 7 days for anyone who is displaying symptom or 14 days if it is another member of the household.

Key Workers (statement from The Almshouse Association as at 25 March 2020)

We have been asked by members to give an interpretation of the government guidance on the status of almshouse staff and volunteers as key workers.

Following recent guidance from the Government to registered providers, we have interpreted the definition of key worker in relations to almshouse staff as follows:

Almshouses provide accommodation for residents to live independently in individual units of accommodation. There would not normally be a consistent and continuous need for a staff member to provide front line support and care for residents. Therefore, almshouse staff and trustees are unlikely to meet the current guidance and description of key worker as now set by Government.

If the organisation or individual has a role that differs from that above and/or the role of warden as stated in Standards of Almshouse Management (Ch2.) then the definition of key worker would need assessing on its own merit. For example, a care home or dedicated CQC staff team where residents may be under greater risk from communal living and the carer is front line. In these circumstances the definition as key worker may be appropriate.

We have asked the Government for clarity and will amend this guidance if necessary.

What Almshouse Charities should be doing

These measures will have a significant impact on you and your residents. We have put together some guidance on things to consider during this period:

• Almshouse staff may continue to go to work if they fit with the definition of a key worker (see statement above). .

• You should avoid holding any resident events or outings and close any common rooms. You may wish to keep communal gardens open but remind residents to keep at least 2 metres apart when in it.

• If you or a member of staff regularly check-in on residents, you should consider contacting them by phone instead. This will allow you to check that they’re ok but limit your contact with them.

• Friends and relatives of your residents should be following government advice around social distancing and self-isolation. You should consider placing notices up around your almshouses to remind visitors of the government advice. Realistically you will not be able to stop your residents from receiving visitors.  

• Anecdotally we have heard that it is very difficult at the moment to have supermarket shopping delivered with some supermarkets not accepting new online customers and others not having delivery slots available for the next 2-3 weeks. If this continues, you will need to look at how your elderly residents, particularly those who are shielding or self-isolating, get access to food and other essential supplies. Is there a friend or relative who can drop off food and other supplies or will trustees and wardens need to help with this?

• If any of your residents receive support from carers, you should consider checking what contingency plans they have in place and remind them that these care services are necessary and should continue as normal as far as possible.  Care agencies should have infection control procedures in place for their staff. If any of your residents feel that their safety is being compromised, they should let the care agency or charity know so that action can be taken.

If you have any questions about coronavirus and what other almshouses are doing, we encourage you to visit our member forum. Our members greatly value hearing from others on what has worked well for them and it’s a good opportunity to share best practice.

Supporting your residents

Whether you are a trustee or clerk, you will be worried about keeping in regular telephone contact with your residents and the feedback that we have had is that a quick call every day makes the world of difference to them. To many, this regular contact will be what sees them through this difficult time. 

We have already heard from a number of members whose residents have been made redundant or had their working hours cut as a result of coronavirus. This will have implications on how or if they are able to pay their weekly maintenance contribution over the coming months. We have put together a dedicated article on this topic.  

CLICK HERE TO LINK TO ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION WMC NEWS ARTICLE

UK Government has announced measures to support vulnerable people with their energy supplies over the coming months. Information about the measures can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-energy-industry-to-support-vulnerable-people-through-covid-19

The Government and the BBC have confirmed that the proposed changes to free TV licenses for over-75s due to come into force on 1 June will now be postponed until 1 August 2020. You should make your residents aware of this change.  

www.gov.uk/government/news/bbc-and-governments-joint-statement-on-delaying-the-tv-licence-fee-for-over-75s.

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute is issuing regular warnings on different Covid-19 related scams. It is worth keeping an eye on their website and informing your residents of any scams you think they may be vulnerable to.

www.tradingstandards.uk/news-policy/news-room

Age UK has published advice for individuals concerned about contracting coronavirus, which may be helpful to share with your residents. Visit:

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/. 

The charity also offers an advice helpline, which is open from 8am to 7pm each day. The number for this is 0800 169 6565.

[added to post 1 April 20]
AGE UK have also put together a helpful leaflet for elderly people, which explains the virus and action people should be taken to contain it. This can be printed off and distributed to your residents. You can download a copy at:

www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/information-guides/ageukig59_coronavirus_inf.pdf

The mental health charity, Mind, has developed some tips and guidance to help keep healthy during periods of shielding, self-isolation and social distancing. You may wish to share these resources with your residents. They can be accessed at:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/.

A number of community-led initiatives, whereby people are offering to help vulnerable people in their local community with basic tasks, are being set up.

Covid-19 Mutual Aid Local Groups is one such initiative and their website lists local groups across the UK. If you feel you need some help looking after your residents, you may wish to contact the group to see if they would be willing to help. You should explain what your charity does, the type of people you support and why their help is needed.

covidmutualaid.org/

Other Local Community Support group details have been collated into a downloadable document and can be accessed by clicking in the link below:

Community Support

Please note: Many of these groups have been set up on Facebook and you will need a Facebook account to make contact with them. As far as we’re aware, none of the volunteers are DBS checked so you should limit their interaction with your residents and any exchange of money should be handled by staff or trustees at the charity.

Running your Charity

The Charity Commission has published guidance on how to run your charity during the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes information in paying your staff, using reserves and restricted funds, and holding meetings remotely.

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

The Charity Commission has also advised that charities that are due to submit their annual return over the coming weeks but are unable to do so can request an extension. More information can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/filing-charity-annual-returns-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic.

[added to post 1 April 2020]
The Charity Commission has advised that serious incidents should continue to be reported as usual under their existing guidance. No changes to their serious incident reporting guidance has been made as yet as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Charities are urged to keep an eye on the Charity Commission’s coronavirus guidance to see if this changes.

[added to post 2 April 2020]
The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has launched a coronavirus emergency fund to help smaller charities that have been affected by the pandemic. Grants of up to £10,000 are available and details on how to apply can be found at:

www.cafonline.org/charities/grantmaking/caf-coronavirus-emergency-fund.

If you need help in applying for a grant, please contact Sue Van Leest at susanvanleest@almshouses.org.

NHS England has developed guidance on the supply and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at:

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/guidance-supply-use-of-ppe/

[added to post 1 April 2020]
The Regulator of Social Housing is providing regular guidance to registered providers on their obligations during the Covid-19 pandemic. These updates can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/rsh-statement-on-coronavirus.

[added to post 2 April 2020]
The National Housing Federation is publishing regular updates on its websites on a variety of issues affecting the housing sector during the Cobid-19 outbreak. They are also holding webinars. To find out more, visit their website at:

www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blogs/

NCVO have provided useful guidance for charities on how to support their staff and volunteers, whilst also keeping your charity running well. This information can be found at:

www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/information/coronavirus.

EROSH (the national consortium for older people’s housing) has put together a briefing note on supporting residents and staff through Covid-19. This can be downloaded at:

https://erosh.co.uk/supporting-older-people-staff-through-coronavirus/

[added to post 1 April 2020]
Our Panel of Consultants remain active and some are providing coronavirus advice via their websites. If you need any professional advice, you can search for professionals with experience of dealing with almshouse charities at:

www.almshouses.org/panel-of-consultants/. 

Posted 24 Mar 2020

last updated 2nd April 2020 13:15

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