Coronavirus Advice For Carers

• Download the new NHS COVID-19 app today. It is the fastest way to see if you’re at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community. The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in. It uses proven technology from Apple and Google, designed to protect every user’s privacy.

You can get help downloading the app.

• Adhere to the new rules;
• Get vaccinated;
• Get tested.  You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms;
• Do not leave your home if you have symptoms (a new, continuous cough, a temperature or a change or loss of your sense of taste or smell);
• if you test positive for Coronavirus, you must share information promptly about your recent contacts through the NHS Test and Trace service to help us alert other people who may need to self-isolate;
• if you are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace Service because you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus, you will be told to begin self-isolation for 10 days from your last contact with that person. It’s really important to do this even if you don’t feel unwell because, if you have been infected, you could become infectious to others at any point up to 14 days. Your household doesn’t need to self-isolate with you, if you do not have symptoms, but they must take extra care to follow the guidance on social distancing and handwashing and avoid contact with you at home;
• If you live with someone who has Coronavirus symptoms, all other household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 10 days. The 10-day period starts from the day when the first person in the household became ill or if they do not have symptoms, from the day their test was taken. If anyone else in the household starts displaying symptoms, they must stay at home for at least 10 days from when their symptoms appear;
• Government guidance is updated and embraces new topics each day. We will do our best to keep up with all of the changing advice, so please check back to these pages regularly.

Social distancing is still very important.

You should stay 2 metres apart from anyone who is not in your household or support bubble where possible, or 1 metre with extra precautions in place (such as wearing face coverings) if you cannot stay 2 metres apart.

There are actions you can take to reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19 and help keep you and your loved ones safe. This includes:

• Meet outside – When people are outside and physically distanced from each other, the particles containing the virus that causes COVID-19 are blown away which makes it less likely that they will be breathed in by another person;
• If you do meet inside, make sure the space is well ventilated. Open windows and doors, or take other action to let in plenty of fresh air. Bringing fresh air into a room and removing older stale air that may contain virus particles reduces the chance of spreading COVID-19. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed from the room;
• Take the vaccine when you are offered it, and encourage others to as well. Vaccines reduce (but do not eliminate) the chances of catching COVID-19 and passing it on, and of serious illness. Consider whether you and your loved ones are vaccinated and whether there has been time for the vaccine to take effect before being in close contact;
• Remember that some people are more vulnerable than others to being seriously ill from COVID-19. The risks from COVID-19 and therefore of close contact are greater for some people than others, for example because they are clinically extremely vulnerable, pregnant or older. For example, you might choose not to have close contact with an elderly relative at this point, particularly if one or both of you are not vaccinated;
• Minimise how many people you’re in close contact with, and for how long. The more people you are in close contact with – particularly if they are from different households – the higher the chances of you catching or passing on COVID-19. Longer periods of close contact increase the risk of transmission, but remember that even brief contact can spread COVID-19 and there is no such thing as a fully safe period of close contact;
• Get tested twice a week, even if you don’t have symptoms. Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not show symptoms, so can spread the virus to others without knowing. Testing regularly will help to reduce risk, particularly before meeting people from outside your household. You can order free home tests for you and your loved ones that give results in 30 minutes;
• Wash hands and clean surfaces regularly to remove virus particles.

We hope that future national lockdowns can be avoided, but although infections are falling in England, we must be aware of Coronavirus variants and ‘mutations of concern’.

Sometimes you will hear the phrase ‘surge testing’.  Surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing in some areas) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations.

It involves testing of people who do not have any symptoms of Coronavirus.

Surge testing happens in a defined area which is designed to try and capture any potential community spread, this is often smaller than the whole ward area.

Please go to the City Council’s website to see if your postcode, or the postcode of the person you are caring-for is affected.

All residents, in the affected postcodes, who are over the age of 16 are strongly encouraged to take a Coronavirus test, even if they are not showing symptoms and even if they have been vaccinated.

To help protect yourself and your friends, family, and community you should continue to follow the guidance, even if you’ve been vaccinated against Cornonavirus.

The vaccines have been shown to reduce the likelihood of severe illness in most people. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so those who have received the vaccine should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection.

We do not know by how much the vaccine stops Coronavirus from spreading. Even if you have been vaccinated, you could still spread Coronavirus to others.

The Government’s advice to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable people has changed again.

If you, or the person you care for, are clinically extremely vulnerable, you are no longer advised to shield.

However, you should continue to follow the guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable and are advised to continue taking extra precautions to protect yourself.

It is important that you continue to keep the number of social interactions that you have low and try to limit the amount of time you spend in settings where it is difficult to maintain social distancing.

The last thing that we want to happen is that someone we love gets infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The Government has updated its specific guidance for carers, which you can read here.

Irrespective of whether you live with the person that you’re caring for, or not, there will be times when you are out of the house – shopping, exercising, or returning to work for example.  To stay safe, you must think carefully about where you’ve been and who you’ve been close to.

Coronavirus spreads between people who are in close contact through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.  These droplets can live on hard surfaces and clothes and you can be infected if you touch an infected surface and then touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.  Washing your hands, or using hand sanitizer after being near an infected person, or when having been outside of the house is essential.

You might have heard that the Government changed its advice on what’s known as social distancing.  The advice is now to keep two metres away from people, who aren’t in your household, as a precaution or one metre when you can mitigate the risk by taking other precautions, such as wearing a face covering. Don’t forget to socially distance when you’re waiting for public transport, or choosing where to sit on public transport.

The Distance Aware initiative has been recently endorsed by the Department of Health and Social Care to promote the need for ongoing distancing for all.  The resources can be used to show that the carrier may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing and is signal to others around them that they need to pay attention and be given space.

The Government guidance on face coverings changes from time to time.  You can find the latest guidance here.

A face covering is something which safely covers the nose and mouth.  Face coverings are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth.  Please remember that wearing a face covering is not a replacement for social distancing, or for regular handwashing.

In England, you must wear a face covering by law in the following settings (some of these may be closed):

• NHS settings, including hospitals and primary or community care settings, such as GP surgeries. They are advised to be worn in care homes;
• public transport (aeroplanes, trains, trams and buses);
• taxis and private hire vehicles;
• transport hubs (airports, rail and tram stations and terminals, maritime ports and terminals, bus and coach stations and terminals);
• shops and supermarkets (places which offer goods or services for retail sale or hire);
• shopping centres (malls and indoor markets);
• auction houses;
• premises providing hospitality (bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes), except when seated at a table to eat or drink;
• post offices, banks, building societies, high-street solicitors and accountants, credit unions, short-term loan providers, savings clubs and money service businesses;
• estate and lettings agents;
• theatres;
• premises providing personal care and beauty treatments (hair salons, barbers, nail salons, massage centres, tattoo and piercing parlours);
• premises providing veterinary services;
• visitor attractions and entertainment venues (museums, galleries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, cultural and heritage sites, aquariums, indoor zoos and visitor farms, bingo halls, amusement arcades, adventure activity centres, indoor sports stadiums, funfairs, theme parks, casinos, skating rinks, bowling alleys, indoor play areas including soft-play areas);

• libraries and public reading rooms;
• places of worship;
• funeral service providers (funeral homes, crematoria and burial ground chapels);
• community centres, youth centres and social clubs;
• exhibition halls and conference centres;
• public areas in hotels and hostels; and
• storage and distribution facilities

You are expected to wear a face covering immediately before entering any of these settings and must keep it on until you leave.

The fine has doubled for not wearing a face covering.  For a first offence it is £200. For repeat offenders, the fine doubles for each subsequent breach so a second fine is £400, then it goes up to £800, £1,600, £3,200 and £6,400. Fines are halved if you pay them within 14 days.

You are also strongly encouraged to wear a face covering in other enclosed public spaces where social distancing may be difficult and where you come into contact with people you do not normally meet.

You are strongly urged not to purchase surgical masks or respirators. These need to be prioritised for healthcare workers working in more high-risk environments where the risk is greatest.  Instead the public is encouraged to use, or make face coverings at home, using scarves or other textile items that many will already own. Please read the guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

Those who have an age, health or disability reason to not wear a face covering should not be routinely asked to provide any written evidence of this. Written evidence includes exemption cards.

Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.

This is a personal choice, and is not necessary in law.  Some examples can be found here.

As soon as you get back to the house, you must wash your hands and ideally change your clothes before you approach anyone you live with.  Washing your hands is simple, but vital – wash using soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser.  If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Place an amount in your palm and in a washing action, cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.  There’s a handy BBC’s video to watch and there’s more information on the NHS website How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus.

If you think you’ve been in close contact with someone with confirmed Coronavirus, take extra precautions around social distancing and check if you have symptoms using the Coronavirus symptom checker.  Please think carefully about how you are feeling over the next week.

Please be aware that a new Coronavirus symptom has been recognised. So, if you have a high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough and/or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, you may have Coronavirus

· high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

· new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

· loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least one of these symptoms.

If you haven’t already, start putting in place contingency measures to support the person you care for. Forward Carers have recently produced a What IF plan and a What IF plan template. It’s a simple guide which may help you plan and record useful information for emergency situations that may arise. Take a look – it could be a way giving you a little extra peace of mind at this time.

Don’t forget that the What If plan needs to cover the situation that you might be ill and the person that you’re caring for is still in the house with you – but you will of course be keeping contact with them to the absolute minimum, to reduce their risk of catching Coronavirus from you.

If you do not live with the person you care for, we suggest you keep in regular contact over the phone, through email or through video calls.  If online communication isn’t possible, never underestimate the value of a regular phone call to offer social contact and support.

Let everyone that helps you care for your loved one know that they should only visit them if they are providing essential care such as washing, administering medication, dressing and preparing meals.  If you have a weekly rota, it might be sensible to reduce the number of people participating.  But please remind them, that they could be needed to step in, if someone becomes ill.

Everyone who visits the person you’re caring for should wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitiser as soon as they arrive. Talk to the person you’re caring for about the hygiene measures that they should expect from anyone coming into their home. Let them know that they should not be afraid to insist that these are followed.

We advise that you make plans for alternative face-to-face care for the person you care for, for example by calling on trusted neighbours, friends or family members. We have recently produced a What IF plan and a What IF plan template. It’s a simple guide which may help families plan and record useful information for emergency situations that may arise, meaning you are unable to provide care.

Also check how the person being cared for feels about any decisions you need to make. Their welfare is of course paramount, but they should be part of any decision made.

If someone had been shielding, but they will need support again, they should call the NHS Volunteer Responders programme, on 0808 196 3646 to be linked with a volunteer.

NHS Volunteer Responders can support with:

• collecting shopping, medication (if your friends and family cannot collect them for you) or other essential supplies;
• a regular, friendly phone call which can be provided by different volunteers each time or by someone who is also shielding and will stay in contact for several weeks; and
• transport to medical appointments.

The updated guidance for people who have been shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable from Coronavirus can be found here.

Locally, the City Council has launched an emergency response hub to ensure access to support is available for our most vulnerable citizens.  The service will prioritise those in critical need who have received a letter from NHS England stating they are in a priority group; or those that are self-isolating for shorter periods but are unable to rely on family or friends for adequate practical support such as:

• emergency food supplies; or
• social contact.

The City Council will be signposting and connecting vulnerable citizens to voluntary organisations and community groups for support.  You can contact the City Council in these ways:

• Online information: birmingham.gov.uk/coronavirus_advice
• Online support request: here
• By phone: 0121 303 1116 (Mon-Fri:9am-5pm)

You might have seen reports on the news that the number of people attending Accident & Emergency have dropped.  Please remember that serious medical conditions such as heart attacks and strokes need to be treated quickly.  Please do not delay contacting 999 if you think that someone in your household is having a serious medical issue.  The impact of a stroke for example can be reduced by quick and effective medical treatment.  Delaying going to hospital for fears of Coronavirus could have serious implications.

Remember also, to look after your own health needs, such as having enough prescription medicines available to you and knowing whether your local pharmacy has a home delivery service.

Stay up to date with our regular carer update.

And, don’t forget, the Birmingham Carers’ Hub is still there for you if you need:

• advice and guidance;
• signposting to community resources;
• a wellbeing check;
• welfare benefit check and advice
• support to access grants; and
• other one to one support.

You can contact us by telephone 0333 006 9711 between the times of 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Appointments can also be arranged outside of these times, subject to availability. Alternatively, you can email our advisors: info@birminghamcarershub.org.uk 

If you are showing Coronavirus symptoms or have the virus, you must self-isolate and stay away from other people, including the person that you care for.

Carers are classified as essential workers (such as doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff, including volunteers and unpaid carers.)

This means that if you think you have Coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature and/or a new, continuous cough and/or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste), you can get tested.  And, if anyone else in your house has symptoms, they can get tested as well.

You need to get the test done in the first 5 days of having symptoms.

To arrange your test, you need to go to the website or call 119 and make a self-referral.

If you use the website, make sure you click on this button:

The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat.  There are some video clips to show you how to do it.

If you’ve had experience of booking a test, we’d love to hear from you – please let us know how you got on by leaving us a comment.

You know that the Government has introduced “Test and Trace” and is asking you to write down your recent close contacts now so that you have them to hand if you test positive for Coronavirus.

‘Close contact’ is now defined as:

• people who spend significant time in the same household as a person who has tested positive for Coronavirus;
• sexual partners;
• a person who has had face-to-face contact (within one metre), with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus, including:
  • being coughed on
  • having a face-to-face conversation within one metre
  • having skin-to-skin physical contact, or
  • contact within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact;
• a person who has been within 2 metres of someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus for more than 15 minutes; and/or
• a person who has travelled in a small vehicle with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus or in a large vehicle or plane near someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus.

If you have asked for a test, you may wish to alert the people with whom you have had close contact over the last 48 hours. You should tell them that you might have Coronavirus but are waiting for a test result.  They do not need to self-isolate, but they should take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene, like washing their hands regularly. They should also watch out for their own symptoms.

If you get a positive test result (you are infected with the Coronavirus), the NHS Test and Trace Service will contact you and ask you to share information about any close contacts you had just before or after you developed symptoms.  If NHS Test and Trace Service calls you by phone, they will be using a single phone number: 0300 013 5000.  Alternatively, they may send you text messages from ‘NHS’.

All information you provide to the NHS Test and Trace Service is held in strict confidence and will only be kept and used in line with the Data Protection Act 2018.

What this also might mean, of course, is that you (or a member of your household, or the person you care for) could be contacted by the NHS Test and Track Service to say that they have identified you as someone who has had close recent contact with someone who has tested positive for Coronavirus.  This will mean that you must self-isolate.

1. alert: you will be alerted by the NHS Test and Trace service if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. The alert will usually come by text, email or phone call. You should then log on to the NHS Test and Trace website, which is normally the easiest way for you and the service to communicate with each other – but, if not, a trained call handler will talk you through what you must do. Under-18s will get a phone call and a parent or guardian will be asked to give permission for the call to continue
2. isolate: you will be told to begin self-isolation for 10 days from your last contact with the person who has tested positive. It’s really important to do this even if you don’t feel unwell because, if you have been infected, you could become infectious to others at any point up to 10 days. Your household doesn’t need to self-isolate with you, if you do not have symptoms, but they must take extra care to follow the guidance on social distancing and handwashing and avoid contact with you at home
3. test if needed: if you develop symptoms of coronavirus, other members of your household must self-isolate immediately at home for 10 days and you must get a test to check if you have coronavirus or call 119 if you have no internet access. If your test is positive, you must continue to stay at home for at least 10 days and we will get in touch to ask about your contacts since they must self-isolate. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 10-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet – this is crucial to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

You may be feeling well and not have any symptoms, but it is still essential for you to follow the advice that you are given.  This is because, if you have been infected, you could be infectious to others at any point up to 10 days. Some people infected with Coronavirus don’t show any symptoms at all and it is therefore crucial to self-isolate to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

It is crucial that you complete your 10-day self-isolation period, even if you get a negative test result. This is because you may have the virus, but it cannot yet be detected by a test, so you could unknowingly spread the virus if you leave the house. Other members of your household, however, do not need to remain in self-isolation.

If you do not have symptoms, you must not seek a test, as the scientific evidence shows that the test may not be able to detect whether you have the virus.

The NHS Test and Trace Service will provide a notification that you can use as evidence that you have been told to self-isolate. This notification can be shared with an employer or education provider.

Further information about Test and Trace can be found here.

From Monday 28^th September if someone tests positive for coronavirus or is told to self-isolate by the NHS test and trace service, they must do so, or face fines that start at £1,000 and can rise to £10,000 for repeat offences. Police can forcibly take people back to their accommodation.

If you think that you have had contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, but have not been notified and advised to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace service, you do not need to self-isolate.  However, if you are concerned that you may have symptoms of Coronavirus, you must get a test.

If you have previously tested positive for Coronavirus, you will probably have developed some short-term immunity to the disease. However, it is not certain that this will happen for everyone, nor do we know how long any immunity to the disease might last.

If you are notified by Test and Trace that you are a contact of someone who has had a positive test result for Coronavirus, you must immediately self-isolate.  Self-isolating at home for 10 days is very important even if you have already had Coronavirus. This will help protect your family and friends.

If you have a positive test result, you will need to stay at home and stay well away from anyone else for ten days if you live alone (or 10 days if there are others in the household – and they too need to self-isolate for 10 days too, even if they don’t have any symptoms).  See the Government’s guidance for more information.

You’ll now need to set in place the arrangements that you have detailed in your What IF plan.

If there is no-one who can provide replacement care and you don’t live with the person you’re caring for, then the Carers Emergency Response Service (CERS) is a possible short-term option for those carers already registered with this service. CERS will only be able to provide replacement care if everyone in the household of the person requiring care is Coronavirus symptom free.

If there is no informal support that can be called on (and if CERS is no longer an option) then Birmingham City Council Adult Social Care should be contacted:

Normal working hours

• Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
• Telephone: 0121 303 1234

Outside of normal working hours

• For concerns about the immediate safety of an adult with care and support needs;
• Call 0121 675 4806

Adult Social Care have bolstered the telephone response service and rapid telephone assessments are being conducted now.

If you are worried that you or someone you look after may be at risk, NHS 111 can offer direct guidance through their online coronavirus helpline. Call 111 if your (or their) symptoms become severe, and let them know you are a carer.

Supporting your recovery after Covid-19
If you are recovering from Covid-19 you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body and mind.

These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help. This information will help you to understand what has happened and what you might expect as part of your recovery.

If you live with the person that you are caring for and you suspect that they have Coronavirus, you should try to isolate them, monitor their condition and prevent the spread of the virus (please use the Coronavirus symptom checker).  Arrange for them to be tested.

It is very important that individuals with symptoms that may be due to Coronavirus and their household members stay at home. Staying at home will help control the spread of the virus to friends, the wider community, and particularly the most vulnerable.  Everyone in the household (including those with no symptoms) should stay at home and not leave your house for 10 days.

Ideally, you should not go out even to buy food or other essentials, and any exercise should be taken within your home. The 10-day period starts from the day when the first person in your house became ill.  If this is not practicable, then you should do what you can to limit your social contact when you leave the house to get essential supplies.  Please cover your nose and mouth, and read the guidance on how to wear and make a cloth face covering.

You should try to isolate the person with symptoms from the rest of the household – it is the best way to protect everyone else.  We understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves from others at home.  But, you should do your very best to follow this guidance and everyone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching their face, and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

It sounds rough, but minimise as much as possible the time any infected family members spend in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.

Aim to keep 2 metres (6 feet) away from infected people you live with and encourage them to sleep in a separate room where possible. If they can, they should use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household.

If you do share a toilet and bathroom with a vulnerable person, it is important that you clean them every time you use them (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with). Make sure they use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.  Another tip is to consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with the vulnerable person using the facilities first.

If you share a kitchen with an infected person, avoid using it while they are present. If they can, they should take their meals back to their room to eat. If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family’s used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm water and dry them thoroughly. If the infected person is using their own utensils, remember to use a separate tea towel for drying these.

Every day, clean all surfaces that are touched often, like kitchen worktops, tabletops, and doorknobs.  Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.

Wash laundry thoroughly.  If laundry is soiled, wear disposable gloves and keep the soiled items away from your body while laundering. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves.

Seek prompt medical attention if their illness is getting worse – if they feel that they cannot cope with their symptoms at home, or their condition gets worse, or the symptoms do not get better after 7 days – this might include:

• trouble breathing;
• persistent pain or pressure in the chest;
• new confusion or inability to arouse; or
• bluish lips or face.

If it’s not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call 111. If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and inform the call handler or operator that they have Coronavirus symptoms.

If you live with the person that you are caring for and you suspect that you have Coronavirus, you should isolate yourself – if you can, move any vulnerable individuals (such as the person that you are caring for – if they are not displaying any Coronavirus symptoms) out of your home, to stay with friends or family for the duration of the home isolation period – 10  days.

If you don’t live with the person that you care for and you suspect that they have Coronavirus, you should try to isolate them, monitor their condition and prevent the spread of the virus (please use the Coronavirus symptom checker).  Arrange for them to be tested through the NHS website.

People who do not have any access to the internet, or who have difficulty with the digital portals, can ring a new 119 service to book their test.

The NHS guidance is now very clear. Visits from people who provide essential support such as healthcare, personal support with daily needs or social care should continue. Paid care workers must stay away if they have any of the symptoms of Coronavirus, so please be aware that continuity of care may be affected

If you have a care worker employed by an agency ask them what protective measures they are taking and how they plan to respond if any of their staff are affected. If the care worker shows symptoms of Coronavirus, they must inform their agency immediately. The agency should carry out a risk assessment and take steps to protect staff, their families and all clients from the virus. The agency should work with you to ensure that the person you care for is also safe.

Everyone is currently advised to work from home where possible. As a general principle, working from home reduces the chance of you being exposed to the virus.

If you need support to work at home or in the workplace you can apply for Access to Work. Access to Work will provide support for the disability-related extra costs of working that are beyond standard reasonable adjustments an employer must provide.

If you cannot work from home, you can still go to work.

Your employer is required to take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace and should be able to explain to you the measures they have put in place to keep you safe at work.

Where employers are not managing the risk of COVID-19, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities will take action which can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply with enforcement notices, this could lead to prosecution.

If you have concerns about your health and safety at work you can raise them with your workplace union, the Health and Safety Executive or your local authority.

Consider how to get to and from work. If you need to use public transport, you must wear a face covering unless you are exempt. Consider travelling outside peak hours to reduce the number of people with whom you come into contact.

If you have concerns you can get advice on your specific situation and your employment rights by visiting the Acas website or calling the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100.

If you cannot make alternative arrangements, your employer may be able to furlough you under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has been extended until the end of March 2021. You should have a conversation with your employer about whether this is possible.

Public sector employees working in essential services, including childcare or education, should continue to go into work.

If your manager knows that you have caring responsibilities, it will be useful to discuss these again.

If your manager is unaware that you have caring responsibilities, this might be the moment to begin that conversation.

Before you make contact, make sure that you know what it is that you want.  If you have concerns, about yourself, your household or the person you’re caring for, make a note of them so you can refer to it when you’re talking to your manager.  Hopefully, this way you won’t forget anything important!

Part of the “new type of normal” might be that staff have different working patterns so that fewer people attend at the same time.  Although the government guidance is to avoid public transport (walk, cycle or use your car), this may not be possible for many people. Also, if you use public transport to get to work, you must think about how to stay safe on your journey and be aware that journey times might be much longer.  Don’t forget to let the person you’re caring for know that your schedule might change – otherwise they might worry when you’re late.

If you are talking to your manager and you believe that you will have difficulties travelling at this time, then let them know.

If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, you should work from home. If you cannot work from home, you should not attend work before 2^nd December 2020 and you may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit. See Get a shielding note.

The guidance does not yet give specific advice about employees who are the carers of people in a vulnerable, or an extremely vulnerable group.  This is why having a conversation with your manager about your caring role is very important.

The Government has reminded employers that employees are entitled to time off work to help someone who depends on them (a ‘dependant’) in an unexpected event or emergency. This would apply to situations related to Coronavirus. For example:

• if they have children they need to look after or arrange childcare for because their school has closed; or
• to help their child or another dependant if they’re sick, or need to go into isolation or hospital.

There’s no statutory right to pay for this time off, but some employers might offer pay depending on the contract or workplace policy.  ACAS have more information online and can help with specific queries by phone (0300 123 1100).  You do not have to give any personal details, but they cannot give an opinion or legal advice.  They will however, talk through your options.

If you remain concerned that your employer is not taking all practical steps to promote social distancing then you can report this to your local authority or the Health and Safety Executive (t: 0300 003 1647) who can take a range of action, including where appropriate requiring your employer to take additional steps.

Birmingham City Council has some specific web pages with advice for citizens about the Coronavirus.

From time to time we’ll all have a washing machine that breaks down, or a sink that needs replacing.  And, some of these jobs can’t wait until ‘things get back to normal’.

With a little preparation you should be able to get the job done.

We all have to stay 2m away from anyone, not in our household or support bubble.  That includes the person coming into your home.  So be ready – and don’t forget to tell the rest of the household.

If you can make sure that they can get to the part of house that they need to be in without bumping into anyone that would be great.  If you can leave the doors open, so no-one has to touch door handles that would be great too.

You might have been a person who has always made cups of tea, when someone is working in the house…well times have changed.  They would probably love a cuppa, but you really mustn’t hand them anything, that they then hand back to you.  It’s not being rude, its both of you being sensible.

If you need to have a chat about the job, it really is best for both of you to do it outside, or at the very least in a well ventilated area and of course you’re at least 2m apart.

Hopefully when they’ve finished, they will clean any surfaces (the washing machine, the light switch) that they’ve touched, even though they’re probably wearing gloves anyway.  They also need to take their rubbish away with them.  If they don’t clean up, or you’re not satisfied, give everything a good clean yourself.

If they’re not wearing gloves, they should have brought their own hand sanitiser.  If they haven’t please insist that they wash their hands for the full 20 seconds before they move about your house.  If they can dry their hands on kitchen paper, so much the better, otherwise please wash the towel that they use.

Hopefully you’ve remembered to pay electronically!

If someone in the household has Coronavirus, you really should tell the person coming into your house.  Ideally the infected person is isolated in a room that they don’t need to go into.  They could refuse to enter your home, even though your repair is very important to you.  They have their own families to protect and these are scary times.

If anyone in the house has been shielding, then make sure that they are comfortable with the repair being carried out. Remember, Coronavirus spreads between people who are in close contact (within 2 metres) through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.  These droplets can live on hard surfaces and clothes and you can be infected if you touch an infected surface and then touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.  The person coming into your house might not be aware of their symptoms.

Carers Card

We launched our Carer’s Card at the end of last year as part of Forward Carers mission to create Carer Friendly Brum. We want to raise the profile of Carers so that you are recognised and valued in the community. This photo ID card is a visible sign that you are a Carer and includes emergency contact information reassuring you that in the event of an accident, the person you care for will receive the help they need.
We have seen a surge in applications from Carers requesting a Carers Card during the Covid-19 outbreak due to the identity checks being made in the community. We’ve received feedback that the card has been shown to the police to verify a Carer’s identity and validate their journey to collect essential provisions. To apply for a Carers Card, ensure that you are registered with Birmingham Carers Hub and complete the Carer’s Card application form here.

Supermarkets Caring for Carers

We have some great news to share with you. Forward Carers has worked with Birmingham City Council’s Commissioning and Resilience teams to implement dedicated supermarket shopping hours for Carers across Birmingham. A number of supermarkets in specific areas of the city are now welcoming Carers as part of the vulnerable access hours. Our Carer’s Card can be used for ID, or you can show proof of Carer’s Allowance or a formal letter from the NHS, Birmingham City Council or Birmingham Carers Hub. The full list of supermarkets, locations and shopping times are available here. Please note, that participating supermarkets are only in certain areas, not every ASDA, Tesco etc is taking part, so please check before you go.

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS Service)

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is jointly working with partner organisations across the city to support those most in need during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. TAWS will distribute food to those who need it most (individuals and community groups) and provide comfort and support to people who are self-isolating through phone calls and other virtual options. If your organisation is interested in supporting or working with TAWS call 0121 728 7030, email support@theaws.org or message them on  Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. If you live in Birmingham and you are self-isolating and need support call 0121 728 7030 during office hours. If you live in Solihull or Sandwell, click here.

If you are self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms and over the age of 65, contact As-suffa Outreach Foodbank to arrange a local pack delivery, you can contact them on 0121 285 2777/07835487124, info@as-suffa.org

The consequences of Covid-19 mean we should take opportunities to widen our networks and make the most of local online groups such as Nextdoor, joining in with Midland Mencap’s online activities or sharing a virtual cuppa with other carers. Opportunities to volunteer are also increasing at this time with Covid-19 mutual aid groups in Birmingham springing up. If you would like to volunteer or need help locally, contact your nearest mutual aid group.

Telebuddy Service

If going online is not your thing and you would like a proper chat, Ageing Better Tyburn operates a Telebuddy Service which is a telephone buddying scheme for older carers. To link up with like-minded people who are self-isolating

email: Leonie.Hammond@compass-support.org.uk

sarah.powers@compass-support.org.uk

or call Leonie on 0774 116 4704

Sarah – 0774 116 4704

Looking for something to do during Lockdown?

How about doing some free carer online training? This can be to help you with your caring role or to improve your prospects if you are looking to work in the future. The training courses are available to Carers in Birmingham and Solihull, aged 19 and over who are unemployed or earn under £17,000 pa. The courses can be completed between 4 and 12 weeks depending on how much time you have available to study. To find out more or to sign up, click here.

Information and advice for parents/carers of children with SEND

These are unprecedented times for all of us but is even more of a challenge if you are caring for a child/ren with Special Education Needs and Disabilities who are now being home schooled (with the exception of a small number of children). Where necessary, carers, therapists or clinicians can visit children at home to provide any essential services.

Birmingham City Council reviews this situation daily and wants to resume all services as soon as possible.The Council’s team are working closely with schools and families to provide their services in a different way to support you and your child/ren. For online support, read these Frequently Asked Questions, and visit these useful websites and links. You might find these top tips for you and your family helpful too.

Birmingham City Council’s SEND Parent Link Contact Line is available for you

to call from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday on 0121 303 8461 whether you want tips on managing educational activities or just a friendly chat. You can find details of how you can get in touch with their support services on the Contact Us page.

The government has also made clear that while most people should exercise only once a day, close to home, those with health needs or disabilities can continue to exercise more than once and outside of their local area if they need to.

You can find out the latest information, support and advice about Coronavirus and its impact on families with disabled children on Contact for Families with Disabled Children’s Covid-19 (coronavirus) webpages, alongside fun activities to keep children occupied.

Tackling Fraud in Birmingham

Recently, we have all witnessed lots of examples of goodwill with individuals and businesses going the extra mile but inevitably there are those who have used the coronavirus outbreak to exploit others for their own financial gain. Here is a warning issued by the West Midlands Police; and other information about the latest scams.

Government clarifies furlough rules

New guidance issued by the government indicates that some parent-carer employees who are unable to work due to caring responsibilities can be furloughed by their employer. The revised guidance is available at the gov.uk website.

Carer’s Allowance during the Coronavirus outbreak

The government has changed the Carer’s Allowance rules during the Coronavirus outbreak. During the Coronavirus outbreak the government has said that a break in caring can be ignored if it is caused by either the disabled person or their Carer having Coronavirus symptoms. 

Free Money Advice

Birmingham Settlement can be contacted on 0121 250 0765 or via email moneyadvice@bsettlement.org.uk for debt and benefit advice, including:

• Benefits entitlement
• SSP (Statutory Sick Pay)
• Universal Credit
• Council tax
• Rent arrears
• Mortgage arrears
• Utilities advice—gas, electric, water
• Hardship grants
• General debt advice

Pre-Payment Meters

If you or the person you care for are self-isolating and you use pre-payment meters, here’s how to ensure you will have enough electricity. You can phone your energy company, tell them you are self-isolating, and they will send you two weeks’ worth of gas and/or electricity.

British Gas: 0333 202 9802
EDF: 0333 200 5100
EON: 0345 303 3040
N Power: 0800 073 3000
Scottish Power: 0800 027 0072
SSE: 0345 026 2658