Following on from last weeks bulletin regarding the coronavirus situation, you will be aware that since then the guidance and information coming from the UK and Scottish Governments around social distancing has changed.

This has prompted us to make some more changes to how we deliver our services, outlined below.

One to One Supports

We will continue to deliver our essential (housing support and care at home) one to one support and we are making every attempt to ensure we have as much capacity to deliver this in the coming weeks and months.

From today however we will be unable to continue to deliver non-essential one to one support such as those who receive support to go out on activities. We understand this is going to be difficult for some people however we will ensure we keep in contact and do telephone welfare calls and support with essential shopping delivery and similar essential tasks wherever we can. This decision has been made in response to the updated guidance from the UK and Scottish Government around social distancing. We want to keep the people we support and our staff safe and we will aim to resume supports as soon as it is safe to do so. Anyone affected by this change will be contacted directly by a member of the team however if you have further questions you want to discuss please do not hesitate to contact me.

People we support and carers/family members

I understand that this is a really difficult time and that some of the changes we are having to make are going to have an impact on those we support and their families. Please be assured that we will resume normal service delivery as soon as it is safe to do so and in line with Government guidance. We do not want to take unnecessary risks that could bring harm to anyone we support, their family or our staff and that is why, we have to temporarily stop delivering some services. Our resources will be focussed on those who require essential support and we are committed to ensuring we have the capacity to do this.

Staff

For those staff who work in non-essential services, I ask that you be patient with us while we try to allocate you work in other services. We will keep in touch with you on an ongoing basis and you may be asked to work in a different service or setting if you are required to do so. I appreciate the flexibility and commitment you have continued to show during this time.

For all staff supporting people on a one to one basis within essential services I ask that as per our recent instructions you adhere to the stringent advice provided by the UK and Scottish Government around social distancing. Support should be delivered within the persons own home only unless there are essential appointments which should be discussed with your line manager. Please continue to adhere to the hand and respiratory hygiene guidance provided by the NHS and issued to you and inform us immediately if you have concerns about yourself, a person you support or someone you share a home with. A link to the current guidance has been listed at the bottom of this bulletin for your reference.

We are monitoring stocks of Personal Protective Equipment however please let us know if you require more to be delivered to the setting you work in.

Fair Deal Office

In line with government advice we have closed the office from 23^rd March to staff, visitors and members of the public.

All non-essential training and meetings remain cancelled until further notice.

Please do keep up to date with the weekly bulletins which will be posted both on our website and social media pages.

Please see below links for latest NHS and Government advice:

https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

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

Kind Regards and Stay safe

Fiona Dunwoodie

Chief Executive