Coronavirus (COVID-19)

18th March 20

At Caring Together we provide information and advice, run services in our local communities and campaign for carers’ rights, so that carers have choices.

How we are doing this at the moment has had to change but our purpose and commitment to carers and the people they look after remains the same.

In light of government requests around social distancing, we have taken the difficult decision that we need to cancel all our carers hubs, groups and clubs for the time being.

We will continue to offer support to carers, focusing mainly on those who will be most impacted by these changes with an increased use of phone support, and online information and advice.

We have written to our care customers to reassure them that we have a contingency plan in place in relation to the spread of coronavirus. While we cannot predict what will happen over the next few weeks and months we recognise that they may be concerned about what will happen to their care should our staff be unable to work, and how we are going to support our staff to stay well. As with all staff illness or unavailability, we will endeavour to continue to deliver our care calls as planned but may, on occasion, offer a different care worker or care team member of staff to deliver the call.

We are assessing any office or care staff returning from annual leave before they return to their duties to establish if they should return to work. We and our staff are following the Public Health England guidance, which is on the government website and the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ including about self isolation. If self isolation is necessary for any of our staff we will be paying them for this period of time.

We are closely monitoring and following all the updates from the government and relevant authorities that regulate and give guidance to care providers.

You can still contact us on 0345 241 0954 or [email protected]

Please keep up to date on keeping yourself well by following the latest NHS advice at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Should any of our care customers believe they have been affected by COVID-19 and/or be self-isolating they should follow the NHS guidance as above and then contact us to let us know so we can act as appropriate to protect our staff, other clients and carers from potential infection.